Free online support for mood, memory, and motivation — no computer experience needed.
Empower@Home is a free online program built specifically for older adults dealing with low mood, low motivation, or feeling stuck — developed by researchers at the University of Michigan and shown to reduce depression, even for people who've never used a computer or tablet before.
The program is based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), one of the most well-studied treatments for depression and anxiety — as effective as antidepressants for some people. Instead of needing an appointment, a ride, or money you don't have, Empower@Home puts CBT online: 9 self-paced lessons, about 20–30 minutes each, done from home on your own schedule.
You don't need your own device or internet. If you qualify, a tablet and internet access are provided for free for the full program, and you'll get a printed workbook mailed to you as well, so you can do the exercises on paper if you'd rather not go online. Everything you enter is confidential — only weekly check-in answers are seen by health care staff and the research team, and only to keep you safe.
If you're not sure it's for you: you don't need any experience with technology, someone walks you through it, and you'll have access to the program for up to a year even if you don't finish in the recommended 10 weeks.
Have questions or want help getting started? Call (734) 215-5090, Monday–Friday during business hours.