For those seniors who are young at heart, willing to learn and grow, the world of cyberspace offers increasingly varied opportunities. Not only is valuable information available for quick access to helpful resources online, there are also myriad entertainment, social and lifestyle enriching opportunities.
Connie Act, who teaches seniors at an adult school in California, stated, "I have such fun teaching seniors who are eager to learn. I have been teaching beginning computer classes for adults for many years and they always include one-fourth to one-third seniors. Once seniors get over the idea that computers are just for younger people or business, I find they are little different from other students, except for one thing. Using the mouse is more difficult for seniors because eye/hand coordination is a little slower. And, if a senior doesn't know how to type, that is definitely the first order of business."
After learning computer skills, most seniors have almost unlimited time to explore their interests via the World Wide Web. Charles Arnold, who is the membership director of the online social Email Club says, "Often, seniors have far more free time than younger people, and become very enthusiastic about this new way to communicate. They sometimes maintain e-mail relationships with dozens of people around the world. Everyone with a computer can be his or her own National Geographic. That is really amazing to me, and it adds a whole new dimension to life. It's also a fun and interesting pastime."
A good starting point for getting connected with older adults is SeniorNet, which began in 1986 as an electronic community. It now sponsors classes and maintains forums about computer literacy, health, wellness and intergenerational activities on America Online, the Microsoft Network and the Web. The basic foundation is for an online community connecting older adults from around the country and the world, allowing them to share interests and knowledge. A professor of technology in education at San Francisco State University, Mary Furlong, who began the non-profit SeniorNet, is also founder, chair and CEO of a new company, Global Senior Network, which plans to develop a new commercial site more focused on providing information than training/education. Getting corporate partners and sponsors who can share in a for-profit venture, Furlong says, will bring a wider base of services, such as an online medical library, large-print books, travel agents to help plan trips, mainly provided by advertising sponsors.
Although the benefits of finding information and resources is unequaled by the Net, seniors usually develop an identity in cyberspace; after all, the sharing is orientated toward what you can relate in words, your skills at communication, and not on physical appearance. It doesn't matter if you have physical limitations in this wired world, and many rewarding relationships thrive because of this unique aspect.
One key to living a longer, happier life is to stay involved, interested and have meaningful friendships and pleasurable activities/hobbies. The Net can provide this for seniors, and as one of my older writer acquaintances, Richard Wahner, said, "The fun of e-mail and the internet lets us spend many pleasurable hours by allowing us to keep in contact with a great big world out there. I have upgraded my computer and printers twice and certainly have no regrets. I believe that of those seniors I've spoken with, most find their sometimes cantankerous computers a valuable addition to their lives. I know that I certainly have. The short stories I write are now FAXed to my publisher in Canada. It certainly saves me a lot of time and money. With Netscape I have gotten out to many people in this world. I have received some amazing messages and beautiful pictures. Truthfully, I feel that my computer and the Internet are that part of my life which brightens each day."
I recently read an incredible collection of comments by those who have lived past the age 100 -- all very lively, intelligent elderly individuals. And while each one had insightful memories about their lives, when asked why they'd lived so long, the majority seemed to think that being concerned with something or someone beyond themselves was vital. In fact, directing a strong love toward something, whether it is toward family, reading, crafts, art...so long as it is outside themselves, is what keeps them young at heart.
If the Internet plays a part in the motivation to live longer, then we could all learn a lesson from the brave senior pioneers blazing a new trail through cypberspace!
The following are some useful links for senior resources on the Internet:
NATIONAL AGING SERVICES NETWORK
Excellent resources/links for seniors by U.S. Government.
SENIOR NET
Variety of outlets for those wishing to
be part of larger electronic senior community.
THE BIG EYE
The Big Eye is comprised of nine
interactive pages, each with about 100
links to interesting sites on the World
Wide Web, as well as to 400 search
engines. The sites listed range from
"Around the World in 80 clicks", to a
national telephone directory, called
"Switchboard".
YESTERDAY'S MEMORIES
An entertaining ezine with
stories/memories/photos of nostalgia.
Newsgroup: soc.retirement Discussions pertaining to retirement issues -- older adults helping one another by sharing life experiences.
