Company Provides Technological Support To Seniors

Generation Connect uses tech savvy young people to assist seniors. (Photo provided by Generation Connect)
Generation Connect uses tech savvy young people to assist seniors. (Photo provided by Generation Connect)

Company Provides Technological Support To Seniors

By Tia Carol Jones

Generation Connect was founded in October 2020, as a capstone project while Candace Walker was pursuing her master’s degree from the University of Southern California. Originally, it was designed to be an in-person service where teens could provide support to seasoned adults, the services would include lawn care, pet care and some technological support. Seeing a need to pivot, Walker decided that Generation Connect should focus on virtual technology support, in an effort to also combat the loneliness and isolation people were feeling during the COVID-19 pandemic. What resulted was a company that was able to scale to provide nationwide service.

Candace Walker, CEO and Founder of Generation Connect took the time to answer questions.

Citizen Newspaper: What is the concept behind Generation Connect?

Candace Walker: The concept of Generation Connect is the direct result of my newly widowed mother coming to live with me and my children.  I was a single mom and leaned on my mother to help me with my burgeoning teens and their crazy schedule.  I also leaned on my teens to help my mom operate her newfound devices, i.e., iPhone, remote connected the Wii and other gaming devices, and basic computer skills, like email and telehealth services.  No doubt, my family was one of the lucky ones.  I thought about the countless seniors who had no one there to help them and the children from single-parent households who were missing out on life lessons because of the need to focus more on basic provisions.  And so, Generation Connect was born.

Citizen: How does Generation Connect work? 

Walker: We're an award-winning program and social impact startup bringing together teens with seasoned adults for engagement, enhancement, and entertainment services.  We connect local high schoolers with older adults during a seven-session program to offer tech support, online gaming, and common interest bonding.  In exchange, our teens receive mentorship, soft skills training, and community service hours, which can all help toward college applications and other post-high school options.  We're also an official worksite with many WorkSource programs throughout Los Angeles, allowing students to earn compensation.  Our teens undergo training to learn empathy and patience, as well as how to teach tech to seasoned adults.  Our surveys and participant interviews show how Generation Connect's impact aligns with numerous studies proving that Generativity (the act of receiving personal gain from investing in members of another generation) combats degenerative health conditions in seasoned adults while improving developmental skills in teens, such as initiative, leadership, problem-solving, and more. Along with increased technical skills, seasoned adult participants report fewer feelings of loneliness and social isolation, while our teens confirm increased social prowess and confidence.

Generation Connect is about intergenerational empowerment. It’s not just tech support; it’s relationship building, mutual learning, and community connection. The program strengthens confidence, fosters understanding between generations, and makes technology accessible to all ages. 

Citizen: You launched three other digital solutions, Jenesse4Hope, Just Us and Earnster For Teens. Why do you think it is important to use technological solutions for real world problems/issues?

Walker: Every day, ten thousand Baby Boomers are turning 65, and they want to "age in place," but will need technology to help them have a higher quality of life.  Yet, nearly 60% feel technology isn't designed with them in mind, according to a recent AARP study.  Additionally, 40% of seasoned adults face loneliness and isolation regularly, and many youth lack social graces as their prefrontal cortex continues to develop.  By connecting the two generations through technology, we can bridge the digital and social divides.  Since tech tools like Artificial Intelligence are here to stay, the sooner seasoned adults can enhance their digital literacy, the more independence they'll have for a longer period of time, and the better decisions seasoned adults will be able to make about their lives.   

Citizen: What has been the response from the seasoned adults who have used Generation Connect?

Walker: The majority of seasoned adults are pleasantly surprised by our teens, who are not just tech-savvy but also empathic and patient.  Seasoned adults love the one-on-one training that allows them to learn at their own pace while engaging with youth who truly value their life lessons. 

Citizen: How does Generation Connect not just benefit the seasoned adults who use it, but also the teens who work as tech support?

Walker: For teens participating in GC, beyond being able to earn community service hours and sometimes compensation if they qualify with a youth work source program, they gain valuable mentorship and life lessons that help them navigate this crucial time of their lives.  From deciding to attend college or enter the workforce, teens expand their understanding and perspective on what might lie ahead.  

For more information about Generation Connect, visit https://generationconnect.io, email info@generationconnect.io, or call 877-839-3360.

Latest Stories

Latest Podcast

Quandra-Urban Market Exchange