Episode Update with Gina Upchurch, Founder/Executive Director of Senior PharmAssist.

Seniors have been greatly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and organizations like Senior Pharm Assist have expanded their services to continue to reach out to their participants to ensure that they had a life line during the shutdowns. Access to food, promoting self care, and digital services were some of the expanded services provided. Loneliness is a health risk for many seniors and Senior PharmAssist continued their reassurance calls to help their clients during this challenging time. As an advocacy organization, Senior PharmAssist joined community coalitions to support and advocate for vulnerable communities in the Durham North Carolina community. Senior PharmAssist was particularly concerned with the Digital Divide impacting vaccination access since so many seniors cannot afford or have no internet access. Director Upchurch shares informaion about a new federal program funded by the FCC--the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program--which will provide discounts for internet and devices. https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-372389A1.pdf