Posts by: FiftyForward

Open AI skills event with members

Helping older adults use AI in everyday life

Open AI skills event with members

In collaboration with OATS, bringing free, hands-on ChatGPT workshops to 1,000 older adults across 10 U.S. cities

AI should be useful and accessible to everyone. That means making sure people of every age have the support they need to use these tools to help make everyday life easier. For older adults, that can mean getting help planning a trip, understanding a confusing letter or bill, spotting a possible scam, pursuing a new hobby, or staying connected with family and loved ones.

On September 16, 2026, OpenAI Academy, in collaboration with Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) from AARP is hosted the Older Adults AI Skills Jam: a free, in-person learning experience designed to help older adults use ChatGPT confidently and safely. The Jam is part of a multi-year effort OpenAI launched with OATS to help older adults build practical AI skills and stay safe online through its flagship program, Senior Planet.

In Nashville, the AI Skills Jam took place at FiftyForward Knowles and had an incredible 143 attendees!

The early feedback has been fantastic with respondents so far rating the Jam either “very valuable” or “extremely valuable,” and every respondent said they would recommend it to their peers. 

One attendee captured the value of the day beautifully: "Great day. Much appreciation for the opportunity to learn in a safe environment.”

According to data from OpenAi, older adults are increasingly using ChatGPT for practical guidance, finding information, and writing. In the U.S., the share of messages associated with people 55+ grew from 6% to nearly 10% in a year.

Online safety is a core part of the program. Part of the workshop includes helping older adults spot scams and use ChatGPT as an additional layer of scrutiny and prevention. It walks through common warning signs, including urgent language, secrecy, and suspicious links, and a simple rule: pause, think, and ask. Tens of millions of times a week, people ask ChatGPT for help evaluating suspicious messages, emails, and websites. This education complements OpenAI’s broader work to prevent, detect, and disrupt fraud and scams.

The Older Adults AI Skills Jam will take place in 10 communities across the country and in partnership with local organizations supporting older adults. We’re proud to collaborate with these organizations and support their communities:

  • Senior Planet in Denver, Colorado
  • Senior Planet in Miami, Florida
  • Senior Planet in San Antonio, Texas
  • Senior Planet in Montgomery County, Maryland
  • Senior Planet in Queens, New York
  • The Mirowitz Center in St. Louis, Missouri
  • Senior Community Services in Twin Cities, Minnesota
  • The Nashville Public Library and FiftyForward in Nashville, Tennessee
  • Fresno EOC in Fresno, California
  • LEARN Idaho in Boise, Idaho

The AI Skills Jam is part of OpenAI Academy’s broader work to make AI literacy practical and accessible to everyone. It builds on previous events we’ve hosted with nonprofits, small businesses, and K–12 educators.

We are grateful to OATS, our local partners, and the participants joining us across the country. Their questions, ideas, and experiences will help shape future learning resources for older adults to ensure the benefits of this technology reach everyone.

Blog originally appeared in collaboration with OpenAI.

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Who’s Taking Care of Tennessee’s Family Caregivers?

By: Javita Williamson, MBA, BSW

mother and caregiver daughter embracing

When we talk about caregiving, the conversation often focuses on the person receiving care. What happens when they can no longer manage everything on their own? That’s when a loved one usually steps in to give support.

Across Tennessee, many family members struggle to balance the responsibilities of caregiving with work, parenting, relationships, finances, and their own health. They are children scheduling appointments, husbands managing medications, friends making phone calls, and grandchildren entering new responsibilities. They are caregivers, even though some may not identify themselves that way.

Caregiving is not a small issue in Tennessee. For many caregivers, it is a gradual process. It may start with grocery shopping for a loved one, then progress to sending medication reminders, managing appointments, or assisting with personal care. Before long, helping out has become caregiving. Or the responsibility can suddenly fall into their laps. 

Many caregivers are unpaid. According to AARP’s Caregiving in the U.S. 2025: Caring Across States report, family caregivers in Tennessee provide $12.3 billion in unpaid care each year. Caregiving often doesn’t come with training or predictable hours. Family members usually become experts from experience because they need to be for the person they care for.

Caregivers Need Care, Too

Caregiving comes with emotional and physical weight. Caregivers can become so focused on their loved ones’ well-being that they set their own needs aside, and that can be dangerous. The reality of that statement became apparent with the recent passing of Dolly Parton, who acknowledged that she had health issues that she “didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over Carl.” AARP reports that 28% of adults in Tennessee are family caregivers, and the solution for the physical and emotional toll is not just telling them to “Take care of yourself.” They need support, resources, and opportunities to step away from their caregiving responsibilities without worrying that something will go wrong.

Adult Day Services Can Be Part of the Solution

This is when Adult Day Services can become a crucial part of the care plan for the person receiving care and the caregiver. Adult Day Services is not simply a place where an older adult or adult with a disability spends the day. It is a community that encourages connection, engagement, safety, independence, and quality of life while providing caregivers with time. Time for respite. Time for scheduling. Time to breathe.

Adult Day Services can provide opportunities for socialization, fun activities, routine, supervision, meals, and supportive care. Instead of spending a day alone at home in isolation, participants can engage with other participants and build community.

Caregiving is a Team Effort

Caregiving should be a team effort. That team may include family members, Adult Day Services staff, doctors, social workers, and other community organizations. The goal is to make sure caregivers know there are resources available before they reach burnout.

When caregivers are overwhelmed, the entire team feels powerless. But when caregivers are included in the care plan, they get the help they need and are better able to care for the people they love.

To learn more about FiftyForward Friends Adult Day Services, call 615-742-4693 or email friendsadmissions@fiftyforward.org.

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FiftyForward Bordeaux Champion: Freda J. Minnis

By Melvin D. Fowler, Center Director, FiftyForward Bordeaux

Freda J. Minnis has been an active and dedicated member of FiftyForward Bordeaux Senior Center since 2017. She is a caring mother, a proud grandmother, and a real champion for both our center and the Bordeaux community.

Since she joined, Freda has been a dedicated volunteer and has led our “Flowers to the Community” Project. In this program, members use donated flowers from local nurseries to make bouquets and deliver them to nursing homes in Bordeaux. Thanks to Freda’s leadership and kindness, many residents have enjoyed brighter days.

Freda also plays an important role in our Metro Congregate Meals Program, ensuring that members receive a hot, nutritious meal five days a week. Her passion for serving others is evident in everything she does.

One of Freda’s favorite activities at the center is leading our Arts and Crafts Classes, held twice a month. She enjoys sharing her creativity with fellow members while encouraging others to discover their own talents.

​Freda is always willing to step in, lend a helping hand, and support our members and staff whenever she is needed. Her kindness, dedication, creativity, and willingness to serve make her an invaluable part of the FiftyForward Bordeaux family.

That’s why Freda J. Minnis is truly a FiftyForward Bordeaux Champion!

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Michael

Meet Michael: A Story of Impact

After surgery left Michael in a wheelchair and homebound, he reached out to FiftyForward’s Resource Line. Unable to get outside, attend appointments, or even reach deliveries, Michael felt isolated and struggled with daily tasks. Thanks to the support from our Everyday Guardians, a FiftyForward care manager quickly connected Michael to vital services

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FiftyForward FRESH Presents: Healthy Habits at the Grocery Store

Most people know the saying, "You get what you pay for." Experts say this is especially true at the grocery store.

Yuka, the popular food and product-scanning app, teamed up with Harvard Law School's Food Law and Policy Clinic to analyze more than 800 food products sold across the U.S. across 12 of the most common processed food categories. What they found is eye-opening.

Cheaper processed foods like cereals, bread, crackers, and other common staples contained far more additives, sugar, and sodium than more expensive options.

The report found that the cheapest products have 2.6 times as many additives as the most expensive ones. Products without high-risk additives cost 64% more than those with them. The cheapest foods also had 21% more sugar than the priciest options.

In other words, when we reach for the lowest-priced item on the shelf, we may be paying less at the register while paying more with our health.

What This Means for Us

For those of us focused on staying healthy and active as we age, this study is a helpful nudge. It's easy to gravitate toward the cheapest option, especially when grocery prices have felt so high lately. But when it comes to food, bargain-hunting can backfire. Investing a little more in higher-quality, less-processed options may be one of the most practical things we can do for our long-term health.

You don’t have to change your whole grocery budget right away. Try starting small by swapping out one or two heavily processed foods for better choices and see how the change makes you feel.

About FiftyForward FRESH

To address food insecurity among older adults in our community, FiftyForward Fresh delivers high-quality, fresh, and nutrient-dense foods directly to their homes, along with essential FiftyForward Supportive Care Services for individuals aged 50 and older. Since 1969, our dedicated volunteers have provided thousands of nutritious meals and wellness checks, offering critical support to older adults at risk of hunger and social isolation in the Nashville area.

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