They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but that’s defeatist. There’s no reason that people over 55 can’t pick up new knowledge and skills to help them enjoy a more active and meaningful old age. That’s the idea underpinning an app called GetSetUp, which is currently improving minds and building communities among millions of adults around the world (https://longevity.technology/news/aip-trailblazer-3-getsetup/).
GetSetUp is the brainchild of Neil Dsouza and Lawrence Kosick. Athletes and entrepreneurs, they came up with the idea while running together. Having seen how his parents sometimes struggled with technology, including for essential services such as banking and healthcare, Dsouza wanted to find a way for older educators to leave retirement and broaden their skills, along with the skills of others.
Kosick thought this was a great idea and so did Deval Delivala, their angel investor. She didn’t take a silent role in the app’s development. Instead, she became the person in charge of its international expansion, spearheading its growth everywhere from Australia to India. That’s how much she believed in the project.
The trio have since made GetSetUp available in 160 countries, where it’s been accessed by more than three million users. It’s a social learning platform where people can interact with each other and build relationships while learning new things. They can do this in one of four languages: English, Mandarin, Hindi and Spanish.
Everything about GetSetUp has been designed to meet the needs of its older user base, with lessons in multiple formats. You can be a passive student, just reading and watching without interacting directly. This can be attractive for those with less technical know-how. Others may prefer to use the messaging service, communicating through text and emojis. For the highest degree of direct communication, there are live and interactive videos.
This isn’t just about allowing older people to master new knowledge and skills at a time in life when others may be tempted to write them off. It’s about fostering a passion for learning, in addition to creating a lively community where different people can come together to discuss a wide range of topics. Isolation is a big risk in old age. Some people may even take their new skills and use them to find jobs.
It’s fair to say that GetSetUp is a unique app providing an incredibly valuable service.
