Seniors call a ‘CAB’ en route to the information superhighway

The Continuing Education and Economic Development division at CCBC is always there to lend a hand, identify a need and reach out to help. That helping hand was extended recently for a group of Baltimore County senior citizens whose monthly income was not enough to meet their ever increasing cost of living, and who wanted to work to earn additional money. Seniors who qualified did not – and could not – earn more than $850 monthly.

Through a partnership with the Baltimore County Department of Aging, CCBC’s Occupational Training Center (OTC) selected five senior citizens to be part of a pilot program that would allow them to update their computer skills with Computer Applications for Business (CAB). The goal of this training was to help seniors become more employable.

Each senior brought a different story to the CCBC Eastern Learning Center site. One retiree was too young for Medicare, but had dropped medical coverage because of high insurance costs; she needed a job with benefits. A second senior experienced the end of a 30-year marriage through divorce and needed to work outside the home in order to survive. Another was too young to retire, but was told by her employer that she could increase her earning potential by becoming computer literate.

The three-week CAB program prepared them with the computer skills these seniors needed to be competitive in the job market. Barbara Howard, OTC coordinator, and Gail Wachter, instructor, Computer Applications, coordinated and co-taught the CAB program. “The students found the experience both challenging and productive,” Howard said. “After minor changes were made to the curriculum to meet the needs of the senior students, they were able to successfully complete the CAB course.”

Sue Chalmers, job placement specialist in OTC, mapped out a plan for the seniors’ employment goals. “Overcoming fear of rejection and discrimination were two major issues each senior faced; another was the personal parameters the seniors placed on themselves,” Chalmers said. “We were able to address all of these matters and teach them interview skills as well, which helped them in their successful quests for jobs.” The Department of Aging provided additional support for Chalmers’ job development efforts. Each senior became employed, and each continues to work.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that 4.5 million senior citizens have re-entered the job market after retirement. With the cost of health insurance premiums significantly outpacing wage growth, senior citizens are looking for employment at an ever-increasing pace. The success of CCBC’s pilot program through the OTC has resulted in a continued partnership with the Department of Aging to help seniors who need job skill development.