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Beat the Learning Curve: 7 Tips for Helping Seniors with Technology

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

The old adage goes “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” but today’s seniors are beating that misconception into the ground. In today’s population, 71 percent of seniors go online every day, while 81 percent of seniors use social media regularly to connect with friends and family members. Overall, 92.1 million Americans ages 62 and older are pointing-and-clicking with the best of them.

“Seniors are actually the population that can benefit the most from technology and innovation,” says Chrissy Ross, Executive Director of Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee. “Things like medical alert systems, smart medical devices, health and tracking apps and other new inventions can help our seniors safely and comfortably age in place – and have fun while doing it, too.”

However, a recent Pew Research Center survey found that 77 percent of seniors require some sort of assistance in order to learn technology. Fortunately, the help is out there for those willing to seek it – and for people who are willing to adapt their teaching style in order to help enable success.

“Learning technology can be daunting for some seniors because it’s so far removed from what they grew up with,” says Chrissy. “And, like most of us, trying to learn something that’s completely novel can be daunting and frustrating. But by showing things in a step-by-step manner and explaining why something is worth the effort, you’ll find that many seniors catch on quickly – and may even become experts themselves!”

With that in mind, here are seven tips for helping seniors with technology so that they have an enjoyable experience.

1. Explain why the technology is valuable.
We mentioned that it’s important to explain why something is worth the effort. Many seniors today understand the benefits of something like Skype or Facebook, but a surprising number of them don’t. By showing a senior the benefits of whatever technology they’re learning (personal computers, medical devices, etc.), they’ll be more inclined and motivated to follow through with becoming comfortable with it.

2. Take it slow.
Many of us “young’uns” are used to speaking quickly – and when we’re talking about things we understand, it’s easy to rattle along at a fast pace. Remember that seniors may have no idea – really no idea – what you’re talking about. (For example, a senior who’s never used a computer may have zero comprehension about texting with a smartphone.) Speak at a slightly slower pace, and be sure to give your senior(s) plenty of time to process the information you’re giving them. It’s also important to take the learning slow – in the sense of teaching things in bite-sized chunks. Too much information at once can be overwhelming and cause anyone to shut down. Instead of trying to teach all about email, for example, start small by showing Grandma or Grandpa how to email each of their grandchildren.

3. Encourage questions.
Be sure to pause regularly and make sure that your senior understands what you’re saying. Encourage them to ask questions whenever there’s something they don’t understand. Then, of course, be prepared to be interrupted and pause regularly in the event that your senior is confused. If you notice any confusion on your senior’s part, ask what you can do to clarify – and if you or they are getting frustrated, it’s totally okay to take a break!

4. Let them “do.”
Interaction is key in order to help comprehension and understanding. Just like when teaching children a completely new skill, it’s important to allow seniors to fully engage in whatever technology they’re learning about. (Think back to school – remember practicing things along with the teacher when you were learning a new skill?) When you see your senior struggling to complete a task, it’s normal to want to jump in and show them how it’s done … but doing that will actually hinder their progress and learning (and may make them even more frustrated). By allowing them to “do” it on their own, they’ll become more familiar with the tech, remember what they’ve learned and give them a sense of success as well.

5. Be patient and complimentary.
The best way to create an environment that fosters learning? Make it fun, happy and comfortable. Part of that means complimenting and praising when people complete a task successfully and make progress. Of course, you don’t want to sound condescending, but people enjoy knowing that they’ve done a good job. Everyone needs and wants that boost. Additionally, when seniors are confused or frustrated, it’s important to validate their feelings and remind them that they can and will grasp these concepts.

6. Repetition is your friend.
We’ll say it again: repetition is your friend. Remember to repeat key concepts at essential points, because it’s easy for information to become overwhelming and to go “in one ear and out the other” as you’re going over new concepts. By repeating the important bits, it will be easier for older learners to remember the key things that will help them be successful.

7. Write it down.
Writing things down by hand is always a great tool for helping people remember things – and it’s also an excellent resource for when your senior wants or needs to look up tasks or tips while you’re not there. Encourage your senior to take notes – you may even want to get him or her a special notebook specifically dedicated to technology things.

While technology can be daunting and scary for older users, there’s no question that innovative technologies can help transform and improve the lives of seniors. With patience, a few tips and a good attitude, you can help the seniors in your life learn some cool new tricks to make their lives easier, happier, healthier and more fun.

 

Peace of Mind for Cape Cod Seniors and Their Families

Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee provides memory care assisted living that is comfortable, positive, safe and engaging. Exclusively dedicated to caring for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, our community creates a wellness-focused lifestyle that promotes dignity, respects individual preferences and makes a truly positive impact on the lives of our residents each and every day.

 

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Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee offers compassionate dementia care and unique programs that are tailored to meet the physical, cognitive and emotional needs of each resident – throughout every stage of disease progression. Residents can age in place comfortably and with dignity, while families gain peace of mind.

 

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At Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee, we offer a program of care and services that celebrates life and supports individual strengths. Our compassionate and engaging approach adapts to the unique challenges and individuality of each resident. Our memory care professionals receive specialized and ongoing training designed to help residents maximize their independence in a secure, calm environment.

 

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