The global population of older adults is expanding rapidly. Yet, millions face persistent barriers to digital inclusion, lifelong education, and social connection. As essential services, healthcare management, and daily communication move online, active agers often encounter digital platforms designed without their needs in mind. This technology gap fuels social isolation and limits opportunities for personal growth, creating severe consequences for mental and physical well-being.
GetSetUp delivers an innovative solution to this growing challenge. The interactive platform provides hundreds of live, peer-led classes designed specifically for older adults, covering technology skills, health literacy, and creative pursuits. In this Executive Q&A, Liz Miller, Director of Communications and Marketing at GetSetUp, discusses how peer-to-peer education empowers older adults, combats isolation, and builds vibrant communities in an increasingly digital world.
Q: Many older adults experience social isolation alongside a widening digital divide. How does GetSetUp address these challenges through peer-led online learning?
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Liz Miller: We treat isolation and the digital divide as one problem, because they feed each other. When someone can't video-call family, book a telehealth visit, or join an online group, their world shrinks. GetSetUp starts with practical digital skills taught live, in small, interactive classes. The class itself also becomes a place to connect. Learners show up at the same times, see the same faces, and talk with each other and with the Guide, our peer instructors. A class on using a smartphone often leads someone to a cooking class, a fitness session, or a conversation group. The skill gets people in the door, and the community keeps them coming back.
Q: Traditional online education platforms are rarely built with older adults in mind. What specific design choices ensure the GetSetUp interface remains intuitive and welcoming for learners of all technical skill levels?
Liz Miller: We design for the learner who is least confident, not the most. That means clear navigation, large readable text, plain language, and few steps in between. We operate on a platform built directly in the browser, so learners don't need to download extra apps or updates. We also build to WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards to support all types of older learners. Classes give learners opportunities to ask questions in real time. Guides are trained to move at an older learner's pace and to make questions feel welcome. Many members also join with support from a partner such as a library, health plan, or aging agency. That trusted starting point lowers the barrier before anyone opens the platform.
Q: GetSetUp partners directly with healthcare plans, government agencies, and community organizations. How do your educational programs translate into measurable health outcomes and improved quality of life for participants?
Liz Miller: Our partners need outcomes they can measure, so we connect engagement through pre- and post-surveys, confidence measures, and other impact measures. Our classes address social drivers of health directly: digital access, social connection, health literacy, and financial confidence. When a member learns to use a patient portal, manage prescriptions online, or join a wellness class from home, health plans see it in member experience, engagement, and retention. Government agencies see it in reduced isolation and more people aging independently. We track participation and gather member feedback so partners can see the effect on their populations creating true change in their health preventative measures, managing chronic diseases, and more.
Q: The platform features thousands of topics ranging from smartphone basics to fitness and financial literacy. How do you curate content to help members maintain independence and confidence while aging in place?
Liz Miller: We organize content around what people need to stay independent. Our programming falls into four series: Digital Literacy for All, Finance Wise, Healthy Living, and Creativity for Wellness. Digital skills unlock access to services, Finance Wise builds confidence and helps prevent fraud, Healthy Living supports physical and mental well-being, and Creativity for Wellness keeps people engaged and connected through the arts. What members ask for shapes what we add, and so do the needs of partners serving specific communities. The goal is practical learning someone can use the same day, such as setting up a telehealth appointment, managing a chronic disease like diabetes, or spotting a scam.
Q: Peer instruction is central to your model. Why is having older adults teach their fellow peers so effective for building community trust and boosting participation?
Liz Miller: People learn best from someone who has been where they are. Our Guides are older adults themselves with similar life experiences and jargon. They remember being new to a technology, so they teach with patience and without condescension. That shared experience builds trust quickly, and trust is what brings a hesitant learner back for a second class. The model also works in the other direction: Guides gain purpose, income, and connection by teaching. It treats older adults as contributors, not just recipients of services. Everyone in the room is both learning and giving.
Q: As the longevity economy expands, what role will interactive digital communities play in redefining retirement and lifelong workforce engagement over the coming decade?
Liz Miller: Retirement is changing from a finish line into a new chapter. Many older adults want to keep learning, contributing, and in many cases earning. Interactive digital communities make that possible at scale. They are where people build new skills, find purpose, and connect with opportunities, whether that's teaching, mentoring, volunteering, or part-time work. For health plans, governments, and employers, these communities are becoming infrastructure for healthy aging, not just a nice extra. Organizations that invest now in accessible, peer-driven digital spaces will be ready for a population that is living longer and expects more from those years.
Lifelong learning and social connection are fundamental components of healthy aging. As highlighted by GetSetUp, empowering older adults requires accessible technology, supportive networks, and practical instruction led by peers who share similar life experiences. When active agers gain digital confidence, they unlock greater personal autonomy, maintain mental agility, and build lasting friendships.
Looking ahead, the longevity economy will demand inclusive digital spaces that actively support aging populations. Communities and healthcare systems that invest in accessible digital education will cultivate healthier, more resilient populations. Through purposeful programming and empathetic community building, GetSetUp continues to lead the way in helping older adults learn, connect, and thrive at every stage of life.
To learn more, visit https://getsetup.io
