Seniors and Computers
Bernice Jorgenson can’t sit still long enough to use a computer.
When she’s not golfing, gardening or baking for her children and grandchildren, the 72-year-old Thunder Bay woman volunteers for Meals on Wheels.
And oh yes. She played volleyball until three years ago and – she still does the books for a couple of organizations in town.
Bookkeeping the old-fashioned way that is, with a pencil and ledgers and columns for accounts receivables and payables.
“I just feel that I can do a ten times better job writing it all out, doing it by hand instead of letting a computer do the work,” Jorgenson says. “In a way, I don’t quite trust them. It kind of scares me the things that can happen, like viruses, inaccurate information, identity theft.”
Time. Trust. Fear of the unknown. Lynda Flintoff says these are all valid concerns, and she hears them all the time at the Scholars Education Centre, which provides tutoring and training for children and adults across the province.
That’s why Scholars has just developed ABC – The Absolute Basic Computer Program.
While it’s open to all ages, ABC is really targeted to seniors who have zero computer experience.
“It’s tailored to meet the unique needs of our senior citizens,” explains Flintoff, Director of Franchise Operations for Scholars. “The classes are small, there’s lots of one-on-one instruction, and repetition. Our senior students leave our program willing and able to use the computer. Not only that, it keeps them young, keeps the brain functioning helps them stay current and educated. It’s all about lifelong learning.”
That’s exactly why Gerry Cullen can’t live without his computer. The 74-year-old retired school principal is on it every day, sometimes for hours at a time.
He has an email and Facebook account. He checks the weather, books flights and hotels, stays in touch with family and friends. He listens to music and explores the world through Google Earth. He even brushed up on his French recently, using a CD program.
“I use my computer for just about everything,” he says. “Technology has benefitted me by challenging my brain and making me feel more competent. It has become one of my main hobbies. Even my grandchildren are impressed.”
Cullen understands why others might be nervous or resistant, but he urges his fellow senior citizens to embrace technology, not be afraid of it.
“One of the insidious tendencies that comes with aging is to stop learning, especially using new technologies. When that happens, a senior can lose touch with an enormous part of modern-day life,” Cullen says. “It’s essential for seniors to stay relevant because we have a great deal to contribute to society and to our own community in particular.”
For her part, Jorgenson is adamant. No need for a computer in her busy life.
But she does admit to owning a cell phone. She got it a couple of months ago, “in case of emergencies.”
Is this the beginning of the slippery slope? Only time – and technology – will tell.
Published in the New Horizons publication from the Chronicle Journal on July 10, 2010 by Kellie Hudson.
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