Five reasons Grandma should get online

Seniors tune in to technology to connect, shop and stay informed

By Mary Teresa Bitti and Alexandra Lopez-Pacheco

Roy Palm of St. Cloud, Minn., was only too glad to have Internet access when his son Eric was deployed to Iraq. “The computer was a great comfort. When we received his e-mails, we could stop worrying about him for that day,” says Palm, who got his first computer more than 10 years ago.

Palm is part of the fastest growing group of computer buyers and Internet users. Since 2000, there has been more than a 160 per cent jump in the number of Americans over 65 years of age using the Internet, according to Pew Internet & American Life Project.

“The Internet enables,” says David Cravit, senior vice-president of marketing for 50 Plus, Canada’s largest portal for boomers and seniors. “It gives you a tremendous sense of empowerment and independence because it allows you to keep active, current and alert, and it helps you expand your community.”

Here are five ways technology can help seniors stay connected, active and informed.

1. Connect with social networking

The Internet is a convenient, easy way to keep in touch with family and friends and meet new people. But it’s not just about e-mail. Monitored online communities such as SeniorNet provide an opportunity for seniors to enjoy lively discussions with people from all over the world on just about every topic imaginable.

Windows Live Spaces allows you to create your own web page where you can share photos and news with a customized list of people. Click Photos to upload photos from your computer into online albums hosted by Spaces, or click Blog to post a news item. Then click Friends to invite people to view your web page. Windows Live Spaces also allows you to text or chat in real time with friends and family anywhere in the world.

By adding a LifeCam and a microphone, you can talk face to face without any long-distance charges. And by linking your Live Spaces page to your Live Messenger contacts, you can instantly share information and photos.

Once you’re online, you can read the news, shop, organize finances and keep in touch with family.

2. Shop online

Henry Cybruch of Etobicoke, Ont., has discovered the benefits of comparison shopping on the Internet, particularly when it comes to travel. “I research flights and hotels. Then I contact the travel agent and say, ‘Okay, this is what I’ve found. What can you do for me?’”

Of course, online shopping is not limited to finding the best travel deal. From Amazon, which sells everything from books to shoes and electronics, to major retailers such as Wal-Mart, Sears and Best Buy or specialty stores such as the Victorian Trading Co., you can click your way to the checkout.

Get ready to surf the web! Connect to the Internet by plugging your Ethernet cable into the back of your computer.

3. Take care of finances

Most, if not all, major banks, brokerages and mutual fund companies offer online services. So it’s possible to pay bills, move money and manage retirement income from the comfort of home.

“You can also compare interest rates, learn what different financial advisors are saying about specific stocks and find the best place for your money,” says the 50 Plus Group’s Cravit. “It’s all available online.”

Create a handy reference guide to help your senior get familiar with technology. Download our template to get started.

4. Learn and e-learn

Medieval history, anyone? Learn how to use a computer, pick up a new language or earn post-secondary degrees. There is a plethora of courses available online. In fact, universities and colleges are increasingly beefing up their online offerings.

At the same time, the Internet offers all the resources independent learners need to do it their way. “The Internet is an encyclopedia for me,” says Palm. “I can look up new pains and impress my doctor with what I’ve learned.”

5. Stay informed

The number one reason people aged 60-plus use the Internet is to look for information, including news and health and medical information. Most major publications, including newspapers and magazines, are online. The world’s news is at everyone’s doorstep, regardless of where he or she lives.

“I’m an American, and I need to keep up with what’s going on in the States and still have a vote,” says Joann McLennan, who lives with her husband in Toronto. “I read The New York Times online, and I’m also on the list of political bloggers who know what’s going on with politics in the U.S. I couldn’t afford to buy The New York Times every day.”

Get started with technology

“A common fear seniors learning to use the technology have is, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m going to break the computer,’” says Kristin Fabos, executive director of SeniorNet, a non-profit organization with more than 200 computer learning centres across the United States. “But the computer is a lot sturdier than you’d think.”

Fear of going online is also common, but with a few precautions, there is no need to worry.

Install up-to-date virus protection software.
Never share your passwords.
Regularly clear your browsing history, including temporary Internet files and cookies, especially after online banking. Just open your Internet browser, click on Tools on the top menu, and find the delete function under Internet options.

“I would encourage older adults who haven’t fully embraced the computer and Internet yet to get out there and do it,” says Fabos. “It can be life changing.”