SUNRISE — The Florida Association of Area Agencies on Aging announced a new community initiative in collaboration with Ring to help older adults maintain their independence and quality of life as they age. Ring, whose mission is to make neighborhoods safer, is making a monetary contribution and donating over 1,000 Ring and Amazon devices, including 50 Ring Video Doorbells and 50 Echo Show 8’s, to each of the 11 Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) throughout Florida.

“We are very excited about this new initiative with Ring,” stated Lisa Bretz, President of the Florida Association of Area Agencies on Aging and Executive Director of Advantage Aging Solutions. “This donation will help provide an additional layer of support and security for our older adults as well as give them peace of mind as they remain independent.”

The mission at the Florida Association of Area Agencies on Aging is to promote the well-being, safety and independence of Florida’s seniors, their families and caregivers. The network of Area Agencies on Aging functions as a coordinated body for information and access to services for all Floridians seeking long-term care resources. This collaboration is intended to leverage technology to support agency programs that assist older adults with diverse needs to stay connected, independent, and safe at home as they age in place.

“In the past few years, it has become clear how essential technology is to stay connected,” added Charlotte Mather-Taylor, chief executive officer of the Area Agency on Aging of Broward County. “We hope Ring’s donation will make a difference for seniors looking to feel more secure at home and facilitate communication with their loved ones.” 

“As your leader and advocate in Congress, I will continue working to deliver critical legislation and resources that improve the quality of life for seniors throughout our district and the state of Florida,” said Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. “I applaud the collaborative efforts of The Florida Association of Area Agencies on Aging and Ring to help our seniors securely age in place. This community initiative will provide much-needed support for older adults who desire to maintain their connectivity, safety and independence.”

“Technology can be a wonderful tool to provide peace of mind and safety as our loved ones get older,” shared Senator Lauren Book. “Broward County thanks Ring and Amazon for the donation of devices to our local Area Agency on Aging and those throughout the state, adding one more layer of security at the doorsteps of our aging residents.”

In December 2021, Ring launched a similar collaboration with the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas to support and empower seniors. Since this program’s launch and the successful anecdotes shared by AAA of Pasco-Pinellas, AAA’s throughout the state of Florida expressed interest in expanding this work statewide to reach their communities and more seniors.

“We were honored to work with the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas late last year and are thrilled at the positive reception that this program received from local seniors and other Area Agencies on Aging throughout the state,” said Karla Torres, Head of Community Engagement at Ring. “We continue to lean on experts like Charlotte and the Florida Association of Area Agencies on Aging to understand how Ring can best support senior safety and well-being. We are excited to scale our efforts this year to include Ring and Amazon technology that is easy-to-use, convenient, and can help seniors stay connected with family members and loved ones. We look forward to learning how we can continue to support seniors and caregivers throughout Florida.”

Program Overview:

Ring will donate the following devices and services at no cost to each of the 11 AAA locations throughout the state of Florida:

• 50 Ring Video Doorbells with a free Ring Protect Basic subscription for the life of each donated device.
• 50 Echo Show 8 devices and Motion Sensors with an optional 30-day Alexa Together subscription. With the Echo Show 8, users have the ability to make video calls, schedule routines and even have them start once motion is sensed, or set timers and update lists by asking Alexa. Alexa Together is a remote caregiving service, designed to give family members peace of mind with features like 24/7 access to trained Urgent Response agents.

• 50 Ring Security Yard Signs.
• Each AAA location will distribute devices on a first come, first served basis to eligible senior residents.
• Device eligibility will be determined by each AAA organization.
• Ring will offer technology and installation training to each AAA location.