by Sherrin Griffin, VP, Operations, Sidney SeniorCare –
When we think about how communication has changed over the last few decades, it’s really quite incredible, and hard to remember the days back when fax machines seemed pretty high tech. I remember emailing for the very first time in the mid 1990s, from a computer the size of a large microwave oven, and thinking “wow, this is the beginning of a whole new era of communication.” But, seriously, how could any one of us at that time fully realize the impact that digital technology would have on our lives, and the lives of future generations? With more and more people purchasing home computers, then portable laptops, tablets, and smartphones; traditional phone calls and fax usage plummeted, quickly replaced by email messages and 160-character-or-less texts.
When Mark Zuckerberg introduced the world to Facebook in the early 2000s, we were hooked and our love affair with social media was born. Now with Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Facetime, WhatsApp, Tumblr, Snapchat and more joining the ranks, it looks like social media is here to stay. How the millennials, and their successors, Gen Z, keep up with the latest social media apps is beyond me, and I am somewhat relieved to approach my senior years without the societal pressure of having to keep up. Although … if I want to stay in touch with my 19-year-old nephew, and his future family, then I will have to stay on top of this everchanging technology.
According to Statistics Canada, from 2007 to 2016, internet use doubled from 32% to 68% among Canadians aged 65 and older. Pew Research reports that now 46% of that age bracket is using social media. Despite the notion that older people can’t manage technology due to cognitive decline, many social media sites are claiming that seniors are their fastest growing audience. Overall, older Canadians represent the fastest-growing segment of internet users nationwide. My own mother, in her early 80s, posts more on Facebook than I do, and surfs the internet regularly.
While some believe that digital technology may have encouraged more solitary time and less time spent outdoors, and decreased conventional conversation skills and proper social etiquette for our younger populations, it definitely presents some benefits for our seniors:
• enables seniors to easily connect with relatives and friends who don’t live nearby
• enables family members and friends to connect with and check on seniors as needed
• helps to close the gap between generations by sharing photos and video chats, leading to more conversation and interaction with each other
• teaches seniors new cognitive skills and keeps their minds active
• decreases loneliness and/or depression by fostering a sense of community and socialization online, especially for those with mobility issues
• can improve seniors’ health and wellness by offering internet access to educational information and lifestyle tips that encourage and promote a healthier lifestyle
• enables seniors the convenience of shopping online for groceries, meal delivery, household items, and anything else they may need
Electronic communication and digital media can be wonderful tools for seniors, but can also present dangers to trusting and inexperienced online browsers. Connect regularly with the senior(s) in your life and ensure they are not falling for internet scams, potential identity theft, or other online predatorial behavior.
