How Genworth | CareScout led one member to GetSetUp and changed how she sees her health

For many older adults, long-term care insurance feels like a safety net you hope to never use. But tucked inside Bonnie's Genworth policy was something she hadn't expected: a CareScout perk offering free access to GetSetUp, an online learning platform designed specifically for older adults. When the email arrived, she almost scrolled past it. Instead, she clicked, and what she found surprised her in a good way. 

"I got an email, and I looked up the information and started to check out the classes to see which ones spoke to me."

For Bonnie, what spoke to her first was movement. She is recovering from a rare autoimmune disorder that left her hospitalized for months and required extensive rehabilitation. Today, she lives in an assisted living community in Maryland, receives occupational therapy, and attends seated exercise classes on-site twice a week. When she saw a 20-minute stretch class on GetSetUp, it felt like exactly the right fit.

"The 20-minute stretch class first caught my interest because the instructor did a series of movements I felt comfortable doing.  I also thought that a 20-minute class was something I could commit to."

From there, Bonnie's curiosity led her across GetSetUp's broad catalog of online classes for older adults. She explored technology classes, including a session on Amazon Alexa as well as courses on fraud awareness, stress and anxiety management, and home decluttering. Each one left her with something she could actually use.

"The stretching class provided me with exercises that I would be capable of doing, as well as alternative stretches to substitute for those not possible for me to do in my current physical condition.  In one of the classes I registered for, I learned how to identify a fraudulent email or text and what to do when I receive one. The information taught in this class was highly useful for people of all ages, but particularly for seniors, who are often directly targeted. Alexa and its functionality were the subject of another class exploring the many tasks that Alexa can perform, of which I didn't realize were possible."

That last point speaks to one of GetSetUp's most valuable strengths for older adults: meeting people where they are with technology, rather than assuming prior knowledge. For older adults navigating smartphones, smart speakers, and digital fraud risks, practical and jargon-free guidance matters, and Bonnie found it.

She is candid, too, about where the platform has room to grow. She sees an opportunity for more advanced class options as members progress. Bonnie also notes that a first-time user walkthrough with the initial email demonstrating how to navigate through the platform would help newcomers better discover everything available, something she wished she had from the start. 

“At first, it was frustrating for me trying to figure out how to access classes offered. I contacted the help desk, and their directions led me on the right path. That’s why a set of instructions made available to those thinking about taking classes would provide a user-friendly guide to getting started.”

These are the observations of someone who cares about the platform. After months in the hospital and a long rehabilitation, Bonnie is still working to improve her balance, the range of motion in her arms, and the flexibility and dexterity in her hands and fingers. She is also learning to better navigate life with the residuals of her disease, which includes neuropathy and constraints, particularly in her upper body, due to nerve damage from her disease. 

“I am open to the teachings and advice from instructors and practitioners that can help me on my journey toward emotional and physical well-being. 

In that context, access to on-demand online wellness classes for older adults isn't a luxury: it's a lifeline. And that's what makes the Genworth | CareScout perk so meaningful: it extends care beyond coverage by connecting policyholders to resources that support healthy aging in practical, day-to-day ways.

"I feel that the classes have given me an opportunity to see things in a different light and expand my knowledge on different subjects."

She's not done exploring. She hopes to go deeper into GetSetUp's community features.

"Lifelong learning is great for your body, mind, and spirit. GetSetUp is a wonderful resource to help to achieve just that. 

GetSetUp and all that it has to offer provides the opportunity to keep growing.