Teaching Technology to Seniors
It has been a while since we have seen the comedy staple of the tech-savvy moppet trying—in vain—to show a grandparent how to set up a video cassette recorder.
That is partially because it is an old joke, but also because what was a too-sophisticated technology a decade or so ago is now obsolete. Is it any wonder that some baby boomers and their elders are being left behind?
And yet it is our seniors who, in many ways, are most adversely affected by lack of digital literacy. As pointed out by information technology consultant Anthony Caltavuturo, what once was readily accessible on television, for example, now needs to be accessed on the internet.
“Without that, even the simple pleasures are taken away, let alone necessities,” he said. “Technology brings a lot of things to you that you might not be able to get on your own.”
While groceries from Instacart, ebooks from the library and anything else from Amazon may be what spring to mind, more fundamental to a senior’s wellbeing are the connections that may be missing from his world and thus lead to isolation and loneliness. That constitutes a serious health risk, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A 2020 study from the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine found that social isolation was associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety and suicide, raised the risk of dementia by 50% and substantially increased the risk of premature death from all causes.
One concern about seniors being online is the possibility of their being exposed to scammers. But it is lack of digital skills that is the more dangerous, many observers believe.
Seniors are often targeted for fraud by telephone, an instrument even the most Luddite among us have and use without a second thought. Yet even the most outdated of flip phones will give more information about a caller than an old-fashioned land line, and a smartphone will enable the user to find out much more.
A comfortable tech user can stay up to date on what scams are out there and how to detect and avoid them.
Another misplaced concern is the possibility of losing money through digital payments. As stated by Tommy Nicholas, CEO of banking services company Alloy, “Every checking account can be attacked by fraudsters.” And it is the use of paper checks, including by 75% of seniors, especially for large purchases, that constitute the greatest vulnerability.
Some checks are stolen outright from the U.S. Postal Service, others purchased on the dark web. These can be reproduced in blank using advanced printing techniques like those used by the legitimate check manufacturers, or the original check can be altered.
Acetone nail polish remover, often recommended for removing ink stains from clothing, can do the same to a check. Forging a signature or an endorsement on a check that has not yet been used or negotiated is an old fashioned but still effective way to steal money. None of this can happen without paper checks, and it is happening a lot.
Caltavuturo recommended a few simple guidelines for bringing elder pupils up to speed. First, start from the very beginning. Assume nothing and adapt your technological vocabulary to the vernacular. Even some technical terms that have migrated into mainstream conversation might not be familiar to everyone. Have your senior ask questions, and, if none are forthcoming, check to make sure they are following along.
“Security is the first thing you need to get across,” he added, such as not to send personal information in response to an email, text or chat, not to give out passwords, and how to devise strong passwords. “The need-to-knows are all around security; everything else is secondary.”
Find out what your pupil wants to learn. There is no point trying to teach about spreadsheets if they want only to watch Hulu or Facetime with grandchildren. Be patient, go slowly and explain why you do things, which will make the processes easier for them to understand and to remember, particularly when these are directly related to what you know they want to learn to do.
As with any method of instruction, “Patience, repetition and practice are where the rubber meets the road,” Caltavuturo emphasized. During hands-on exercises, do not jump in to help while there is still a chance they may be able to work it out on their own. Be prepared to adapt to physical limitations that are more common among seniors, such as the need to adjust monitors and displays or to use wrist or back supports. Do not stint on reassurance—for many seniors, this is indeed a new world.
Caltavuturo recommends against courses. “Most training courses are too broad,” he said. “There is information overload, often unnecessary, and seniors may be embarrassed to ask questions.”
If individual instruction is not available, however, it is best to seek out small sessions designed especially for older computer users.
Whatever method is chosen, it is important that seniors not be left out in the cold. Digital literacy can open a whole new world to those whose personal worlds are contracting due to age-related limitations, while enabling them to continue to participate in this one.
Sue Kleinberg is a contributing writer for JLifeNJ from Monmouth County.
