From Activism to Innovation: The Story of OATs, with Tom Kamber

This week on Elevate Eldercare, AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan sits down with Tom Kamber, founder of Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) and Senior Planet, to explore how technology can empower older adults. Tom shares his journey from a young activist inspired by his father's library to a national leader in digital inclusion. After 9/11, he shifted his focus toward technology as a tool for social change—sparked by a transformative experience with an 80-year-old woman named Pearl learning to use tech for the first time. From humble beginnings teaching classes in senior centers, OATS has grown into a national movement. Through Senior Planet and a powerful partnership with AARP, the organization reached over 845,000 older adults last year—and is on track to impact one million. This conversation highlights the urgent need to make technology accessible, inclusive, and inspiring for all older adults—and the role innovation, community, and activism play in shaping the future of aging.