Senior Planet Montgomery Free Online Classes for Seniors Sept. 5-9 will include ‘Mindfulness’ and ‘Online Bill Pay’

For Immediate Release: Friday, September 2, 2022

Senior Planet Montgomery, a technology training program designed for County learners 50 and older, is offering free online classes that focus on how to thrive at home. Classes, which are offered live via video conference, enhance a wide variety of life skills. Classes for Seniors Sept. 5-9 will include “Mindfulness” and “Online Bill Pay”

In addition to classes in English, one class will be taught in Mandarin. A variety of exercise classes also will be offered.

During the winter and spring program quarters, more than 2,000 participants joined 235 virtual programs hosted by Senior Planet Montgomery. This summer, classes will cover how to use and host on Zoom, online basics, popular social media sites, lowering one’s utility bill, financial security, and civic engagement.

The program is supported by the County’s Department of Technology Services’ ultraMontgomery program in partnership with nonprofit OATS (Older Adults Technology Services). The County’s Department of Recreation and Montgomery County Public Libraries also are partners in helping provide the classes at no charge to participants.

Sessions concentrate on user-friendly tools and resources and are designed to enable older adults to learn to utilize technologies to improve their daily lives. Senior Planet Montgomery utilizes curricula created by OATS, which also provides training staff and works with numerous County departments to identify topics of interest for Montgomery residents. OATS sponsors similar Senior Planet programming in six states. The County’s Department of Environmental Protection contributes to the program’s course offerings by producing sessions on how to lower energy costs.

Classes change on a weekly basis. A home internet connection and a device (such as a smartphone, tablet or computer) are all that is required to participate.

Classes to be offered week of Sept. 5-9 will include:

• Hello Montgomery: Thursday, Sept. 8, 2-3 p.m. Join fellow MoCo residents for an hour of socializing.
• Mindfulness Apps: Thursday, Sept. 8, 4-5 p.m. This lecture introduces mindfulness and its physical and mental benefits, such as reducing anxiety, improving memory, and lowering blood pressure.
• Online Bill Pay: Friday, Sept. 9, noon-1 p.m. In this hands-on workshop, learn how to set up an online account with your utility company and explore its many advantages, including automatic bill pay and paying with a credit card or from a bank account.

Class in Mandarin:

• 翻譯工具9/7, 12 - 1 p.m. 有了互聯網，全世界彷彿在您的指尖上 。然而, 當您需要以不熟悉的語言探索網站或訊息時，該怎麼辦呢？ 答案是使用應用程式！ 本次講座將介紹數位翻譯工具和應用程式，例如 Google 翻譯。 您將了解可自動翻譯訪問的網站的工具、可翻譯實時對話的應用程式等等。 我們還將討論這些工具的優缺點以及最適合用在何種情況。

English Translation for Class in Mandarin:

• Translation Tools: Wednesday, Sept. 7, noon-1 p.m. This lecture will introduce digital translation tools and apps, such as Google Translate. Learn about tools that can automatically translate the websites you visit, apps that can translate live conversations, and more.

For more information about Senior Planet Montgomery and to view its virtual program offerings, visit https://seniorplanet.org/locations/montgomery-county/.

The Senior Planet team can be contacted at 240-753-0676 or via email at mocoinfo@seniorplanet.org.

To sign up for the Senior Planet Montgomery newsletter, which includes detailed information about upcoming classes, go to https://seniorplanet.org/get-involved/newsletters/.

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Release ID: 22-461
Media Contact: Neil H. Greenberger 240-205-1915
Categories: Senior