My Cyber-Senior Experiment

Although my 81 year old father is not as tech savvy now, since the stroke and subsequent vascular dementia, he is able to enjoy the benefits of modern technology. On our Wednesdays together, I sometimes help him "get work done" on his tablet; he dictates while I type or I transcribe his notes from the previous week. Since he had been the president of his own corporation, having me be his secretary isn't demeaning to him now. Ironically, his business designed and manufactured computer components so he once knew his way around the world of computers.

But now that technology is changing so rapidly, even I find it difficult to keep up. Remembering how much my dad enjoyed studying ( and knowing how his mind can't do that skill as well as it used to), I decided to introduce him to iTunes. Last week, I downloaded it onto his tablet, downloaded a few free teachings, and showed him where the play and pause button is located on the screen. We reviewed the process about three times and included my mom in case she needed to assist him during the week. My mother, who is more tech savvy than I, took him to Best Buy the next day to get bluetooth headphones. Now my mom is not obligated to listen along with him.


Since then, I saw the trailer for Cyber-Seniors documentary on facebook. While trying to track down the original source today, I came across an international campaign to involve tech savvy youth mentoring seniors in the cyber world.  The website states,
"The ‘Cyber-Seniors – Connecting Generations’ campaign aims to promote intergenerational connections.  It’s goal is to engage youth mentors in bridging the technology gap by empowering older adults to use technology to expand their social and physical worlds." What a fabulous idea!

To learn more and perhaps get involved, click on the link below   http://cyberseniorsdocumentary.com/