PCs & Internet Solutions for Older Seniors

“Seniors: Overcoming Loneliness,” a MarketWatch article (placed by Banker’s Life Insurance, no less) caught my eye recently. The article encourages seniors to visit their local senior center: ”If it’s too cold or difficult for you to get out, stay connected to others by phone, mail or computer. The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project surveys taken from 2006–2008 show that older generations are online now more than ever before with email being their most popular online activity.”

Are seniors online today?

Well, that’s sort of true. Forty-five percent of those aged 70–75 are now online, up from 26% three years ago. And 27% of age 76+ compared to 17% three years ago. But according to this latest Pew study, seniors 64–72 and 73+ are the only two age groups in which the percentage of Internet use lags the percentage of the population. To contrast: GenY (ages 18–32) represents 26% of the population, but 30% of the total Internet use. The two senior groups, however, each comprise 9% of the population, but represent 7% and 4% of Internet use respectively.

Reverse the perspective—most seniors don’t use the Internet.

Flipping the Pew Research numbers around, it’s apparent 55% of seniors age 70–75 and 73% of those 76+ are not online. And some of the increase in usage, of course, is derived from individuals taking their connectivity into the next group as they age.

The Web is more than an antidote to loneliness for seniors.

Let’s get real. We know that the Internet can provide seniors access to health information, support groups, daily news, how-to instruction, product and service locations, address lookups, phone numbers, quick language translations, online games, elder blogs, movie information, humor, storytelling, and even directions to senior centers. And that’s just for starters.

Senior housing companies are AWOL on technology.

I am tired of walking through independent and assisted living facilities where residents are idle, lying down, or snoozing, where awaiting lunch is the activity of the morning, where they sit passively while someone selects a movie to watch, a game to play, or activities to be done as a group. This being the 21st century, let’s ask: are the majority of assisted and independent living facilities installing high speed connections, implementing wireless networks, acquiring and promoting touch-screen PCs, and offering Internet access subscriptions as part of their service (which they could mark up and resell for a profit)? You know they are not.

Senior centers don’t help much, either.

Senior centers everywhere list the requisite “getting to know your computer” class to demystify the mysterious, big clunky box that requires more knowhow than filing a tax form. But do they actively seek and promote cheaper, more usable technology for the home, perhaps even reselling it? (Let’s hear about more programs than just the Silicon Valley Council on Aging doing this). Again, you know they do not.

Are computers too difficult for seniors to use?

One of the tired clichés I hear (and read online) is that PCs and even MACs are too complicated for seniors who are intimidated by buttons, choices, dead ends, unfamiliar terminology and so on. Rubbish, as my mother would say. Vendors are offering simplified, large format, locked down, touch screen devices and services. Check out two very new companies: Big Screen Live or SoftShell both offer subscription-based software for seniors that hides the complexity of Windows PCs with a large format screen (or touch screen, as in the case of Soft Shell) and offers Internet, email, games, photos and shopping.

Are computers too expensive?

Give me a break. No, make that give them a break. Forget the desk-side machines. There are so many sites, so many laptops under $300. For the common areas in senior centers, assisted living facilities and independent living communities, try the HP TouchSmart, which retails for $2,000 from HP, and for much less on eBay. And check out the Kindle 2—see this Amazon Kindle-2 discussion—which may be the “laptop” of the future, especially for seniors with low vision.

Boomer IT veterans should form tech corps service businesses.

As giants like Microsoft, HP, and startups like Big Screen Live and Soft Shell know, you can be both passionate about helping seniors and do it as a business. Downsized and semi-retired baby boomer telecom, IT, and vendor veterans should view assisted living facilities, CCRCs, senior centers, senior villages, NORCs and retirement homes as a green field opportunity in a down economy. This market is still largely untapped and needs sales education and explanation, product knowledge and implementation services.

If everyone associated with tech and seniors seized the opportunity to bring laptops, touch screens, software, and high speed Internet to them, both sides would benefits and an economic segment would get a boost—a win-win for all.

Posted in Aging in Place Technology, Safety Equipment & Gadgets