This year, many Veterans have used VA telehealth services for the first time. They have used VA technologies such as My HealtheVet and VA Video Connect to connect with their VA care teams. But for some older Veterans, telehealth presented a challenge. They did not have the technology required to take part.
Hannah Verma and Aakshi Agarwal, college students at Yale University, and Arjun Verma, a junior in high school, created a way to help these Veterans connect with VA care. Their solution was to create a nonprofit called Telehealth Access for Seniors.
Formed in March, the organization relies on donations of gently used iPhones, iPads, and other electronic devices to hospitals and VA facilities to provide older adults and Veterans with access to telehealth services. The organization restores all used devices to their factory settings so no personal information remains on any device.
In its first half-year, the organization has expanded its support network to more than 300 volunteers. To date, they have donated more than 2,500 devices, including more than 700 devices donated to VA facilities across the country. This summer, the organization also secured $20,000 from Goldman Sachs to buy iPads to donate to VA facilities.
