How To Help Seniors Use Internet?

According to the Pew Research Project, 79% of seniors agree that people without access to the internet are disadvantaged compared to those who do have it. Yet adoption rates remain low, with only 27% of the overall senior population regularly using social media such as Facebook. There are, however, some points that can help people guide their senior friends and family in the use of the internet.

1. Adjust the Design

A common reason for seniors not adopting the regular use of the internet is caused by vision problems. A good first step would be increasing font sizes and the size of app thumbnails and icons. You or respite caregiver from home care Phoenix can also show your senior friends how to increase these sizes themselves, allowing them to adjust for their own comfort. This is part of why tablets are more popular than smartphones for seniors; larger screen sizes make access easier.

2. Emphasize the Social

A big part of the quality of life as we age is continued socialization. This is something that the internet can help with. Pew Research Center states that nearly half of those seniors already online use social media of some sort. Emphasizing how using the internet and its social media sites can keep people in contact with their friends and family is a good way to provide the incentive to learn how the internet works.

3. Be Creative With Peripherals

Loss of motor control and hearing are serious reasons why some seniors struggle with adopting technology. Showing seniors how peripherals can help might be a way to help them out. A Bluetooth set of headphones can make watching entertainment or instructional videos more enjoyable. A wireless mouse with a thumb trackball might be easier for your friends and family to control. A family or a respite caregiver can encourage them to try peripherals that work for them, rather than just sticking to the traditional choices.

4. Have You Tried Asking Them?

We often forget how important communicating with people is. Seniors are people with desires, quirks, and pet peeves too. Ask them what they want to do, and show them why the internet can help them do it. The Skyrim Granny wanted to have fun and share that fun, so she does a video blog showing off playing Skyrim. She even had a young man say she'd helped him choose not to harm himself, and she lovingly admonished him to contact her every day to remind her he was alright.