Partners In Care Launches Free Data Care Program

The nonprofit Partners in Care (PIC) is offering a monthly program called Data Care from March through June to help people keep their information secure.

Because the program is funded by the Gula Foundation, Partners In Care is able to share the monthly lessons for free.

“The foundation recognizes that with older adults, there is a barrier with technology and navigating it,” said Makayla Alicea, the Data Care project manager.

Lesson plans were created by Partners In Care board members who connected leadership to the Gula Foundation.

“PIC is all volunteer based from all walks of life. Some of our members are professors or they have worked for government agencies or in cybersecurity,” said Alicea, whose father worked for the National Security Agency.

The program is just one way PIC is educating its members about technology. PIC recently gave 130 tablets to members and showed them how to use the devices, Alicea said.

“This program recognizes this disconnect with older adults and technology is overdue,” Alicea said. “Even though scams are more sophisticated than they were 15 years ago, it is our job to bring our members up to speed. We plan to create a network to support our members and new people who will hopefully become members. All we can do is help one another.”

Sign up for classes at www.datacare.eventbrite.com. For more information, call Makayla Alicea at 410-544-4800 or datacare@partnersincare.org.