In 2000 only five per cent of Canadians 75 years old and older used the web. Now, 27 per cent of them do. That number is expected to increase according to a report by seniors’ services provider Revera Inc and the Leger Marketing polling company.
88 per cent of the seniors polled said they went online at least once a day, often to socialize, do their banking, learn about drugs, and find out what’s going on in the world.
“I use the internet every day,” says Marion Mills. “I enjoy getting in touch with grandchildren particularly… They are not going to pick up the phone and call grandma probably so this is a great way for me to keep in touch with them and have some idea of how their lives are going.”
Marion Mills is typical of seniors who like to socialize on the net. 53 per cent of seniors in this study us social networking sites like Facebook. One in five uses Skype or Facetime to speak with friends and family. Beyond that, Mill likes to interact with people from around the world by playing bridge online.
Internet use is encouraged at Revera facilities. There are laptop lending services for those who don’t have a computer and seniors often help each other learn to use them. “Once they’re on it they become real champions,” says Trish Barbato a senior vice-president with Revera. “They become the go-to person for other seniors to learn from and it’s really great to see that.
There are special computer programs at Revera for citizens who would like to exercise their brains and a liason with the University of Toronto which tests new program on seniors who are willing to participate.
Computer use can help seniors live independently believes Barbato. They can be active mentally and socially and can live at home longer.
The internet can be very useful to seniors who want to access news and current affairs. Reading a newspaper or magazine can become difficult as vision deteriorates. On a computer one can enlarge the type to make it easier to read.
Marion Mills is delighted with the technology.
“I think socially it enhances my life a great deal,” says Mills. “…It’s just a great tool to learn more, be more. There’s no reason why, as we age, people would ever think that we’re not interested in what’s going on in the world, what’s going on in our community and what’s going on with our family and friends. I find technology is just a wonderful way to access all of those things
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