Senior
Adults Discover the Joys of Computer Literacy
By Carol Bremner
It
seems every day lately, seniors using computers are making their
presence known. CNN.com published an editorial in mid-November about
the rising number of senior citizen bloggers. These seniors, ranging
from early 70 to 93 years old are writing regularly on a wide range
of topics, from politics, to local events, to gardening and nature.
Keeping a blog (short for web log – an online diary) has kept their
minds active, enabled them to befriend people from around the globe,
and given them a renewed interest in life.
At
an anniversary party recently, I noticed an older gentleman sitting
at a table typing on a tiny laptop. I went over to check it out
and tried to start up a conversation. The man didn’t answer, but
continued to type, so I looked at the screen. He was explaining
that he had throat surgery two years before and was no longer able
to talk. Then he went on to type about how much he was enjoying
the party. At that point, someone else came over and tried to speak
to him. Rather than type his explanation all over again, the man
had saved all of his past comments and showed them on the screen
whenever specific questions were asked.
Then
there was the lady from Huntsville, Alabama who felt so motivated
by becoming computer literate that she decided to return to work
as a full time, 40 hour a week, volunteer. She admitted to being
tired, but looked forward to what she could accomplish using a computer.
Did I mention that this lady is 78 years old?
Our
own seniors computer club in Toronto is getting more enjoyable every
week. Since we get together regularly, the members seem very comfortable
with one another and everyone talks about our computer triumphs
and problems. We laugh and learn together and there are sometimes
a dozen seniors eagerly waiting when I arrive at the community center.
The majority are females, but we have some brave men ready to learn.
The members willingly try new things (not always successfully),
send me update emails, and some adults that had never touched a
computer before now have a machine of their own.
I
see the positive effects that computer skills have on the lives
of senior adults every day. My 81-year-old mother wanders around
our house looking for a sunny spot to settle down with her laptop.
Then she works on creating her newest ebook, or signs up as an affiliate
for a product she wants to promote on her elstatbiz.ca website.
The digital camera is always close by to take pictures of anything
mom thinks might sell on ebay. Nightly chats with a grandaughter
in Florida or one in Tennessee round out her day and if she can
fit it in, we spend some time together.
I
wonder if a study should be done to see if computer-using seniors
live longer? They seem to need extra years to finish all of the
things they want to do!
Carol
Bremner (otherwise known as Granny Geek) is a computer loving member
of the gray generation. Her websites promote computer literacy in
the home for the over 50 crowd. Her goal is information without
overload.
