We live in an era in which societal change happens so rapidly we can hardly claim to keep up with it. It is especially challenging for those of us who remember a time before electric typewriters! I have taken it on myself to remain current with as much contemporary technology as I can. I began using a computer at work in 1980, and got my first home computer, an Apple iic, in around 1984 or so. I have embraced the computer, cell phones, text messaging, digital cameras, PDAs, social media such as Facebook and LinkedIn and other forms of technology (I still struggle with Twitter, to be honest). Many of my peers have also taken up the challenge to learn how to navigate the waters of contemporary society.
Some, however, have not. Either through lack of interest, lack of money, or lack of motivation to change themselves, they remain fixed in previous decades. Unfortunately, they are missing out on so much!
How can we motivate elders to move forward into the fresh new world in which we are living? How can we show that their lives can be made richer by these experiences? I think that for some elders, the changes are so rapid that they feel that they can’t keep up, so why should they try. I have heard many of my peers say “I got along without that stuff throughout a successful life; why change now?”
On the other hand, many elders who have lost their spouses are now seeking companionship through online dating. I have several friends and acquaintances who are now remarried to new sweethearts found online. Isn’t that great? The opportunity to re-establish a loving bond make possible through online dating services!
Clearly, technological advances have created connections that were never considered possible before. This blog can be read instantly by a person anywhere in the world who has access to a computer. My Facebook page contains “friends” in South America, Australia, Sweden, Great Britain, Austria. Most of these are friends I have never met and am not likely to meet, but we share interests in coaching, or in barbershop harmony.
My parents, who were very advanced thinkers and doers in their times, would be astounded by these advances. One brief story: I served in the Peace Corps in Thailand from 1963-1965. I taught English in two small towns away from Bangkok where communications were limited. My mother became ill with cancer while I was there. After her surgery, she asked my Dad to arrange a phone call with me. He contacted Peace Corps Washington and learned that the only way to effect a phone call between Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Bangkok was via radio-telephone. I would have to come to the main Post Office in Bangkok from my village in the North of Thailand, and be there at the pre-arranged time for our three minute call.
It was an unsatisfactory call in view of the fact that both of us kept forgetting we had to “push to talk” and then listen without interrupting while the other person talked. It was the last time I heard her voice, however, so it was a precious time from that perspective. She died not long after that call from her cancer.
Today, it is highly likely that Peace Corps Volunteers have cell or satellite phones to call home periodically! They have Internet, Skype, text messaging, and other magical communication devices with which to maintain contact.
I believe that one of the challenges we face is to bring elders into the matrix of social networking to a far greater extent than has happened to date. Ideas on how we can do this? The comment pages are awaiting your thoughts!
Until next week!
David Updegraff
Just wanted to say that I agree with you wholeheartedly!!. .I experienced 35 hours of the 52 offered over the first year of ownership of one-to-one coaching sessions at the Apple Store at La Encantada in Tucson when I bought my new MacBook. The cost was $99, and I feel it was one of the best deals in my lifetime! If you want to observe seniors learning, just drop by the Apple Store and observe. In the back of the store are folks having their one-to-one sessions with great, enthusiastic “coaches” who make this learning experience just plain fun. Anyway, I plan to update my MacBook, turning my first one over to my husband who has been a reluctant but willing learner, so we can both participate in the one-to-one sessions (not together:-) again, and I am excited about this.
Thanks for your comment, Suz. Clearly it’s important to get coaching or training on the new technologies to make them ours. What Apple provides through their one-on-one training appears to be well worth the money!