According to research studies compiled over the last five years 53% of seniors over the age of 65 are using the internet. This trend is not surprising given that society as a whole is becoming more reliant on technology for everything from banking to grocery shopping. Yet those seniors above age 75 continue their previous tendencies, relying on regular mail and the phone for their needs. Unfortunately, for grandparents living far from children and grandchildren this translates into isolation and a sense of loneliness. The Harvard School of Public Health found evidence that socialization is a key to healthy aging, both socially and psychologically. So the question is, how to easily combine these facts to help ourselves and those we love age with grace and stay connected.
As operating systems advance and the average consumer becomes the prime target for these software companies, the use of social networking and video calling for the uninitiated becomes a more manageable task. Computers, tablets, and smartphones have integrated options for those with difficulty seeing smaller screens and using their features. With the mainstreaming of touch capabilities for most devices the intuitiveness of using them becomes natural for all users regardless of age. The use of Skype, Hangouts, and Facetime are all free and easy to setup for beginners. Many seniors already have email accounts with Gmail or Microsoft and just need to install the apps (applications) on their devices.
In my house we may “sit together” and have supper with grandparents in Queens, New York from our house in upstate New York. Often my children come home from school and do their homework or just relax with a snack while they schmooze with their great-grandmother. To older homebound seniors these interactions can mean the difference between surviving and truly living. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, for there over 11 million seniors living alone an internet connection can break their isolation.
In my next article we will go through the practical steps and include links to create the accounts and programs mentioned above.
Daniel Rosenblum is a Licensed Social Worker serving the Rockland County area in Suffern NY.