Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect."
- Chief Seattle Staying connected is necessary and is
fulfilling to our spirits. But what if you were isolated? No access, or very limited access, to friends and family... How would that make you feel? Imprisoned? Alone? Increasingly we rely on technology and digital devices to help keep us connected. Although the 65+ demographic is the fasting growing segment of Internet users, still 50 per cent of Canadians over the age of 65 have access to the Internet! (Statistics Canada, 2013)
And what are the main barriers to internet access for seniors? Cost is a significant one, as is the fear of electronics and difficulty getting started with the devices.
To try and help solve this problem, Nurse Next Door recently teamed up with a technology tutor firm to offer technology training solutions to seniors and families who want to overcome this barrier. And more importantly, to help families stay connected with their elder family members more frequently with more connection. Customized lessons for email, Facebook, or even Skype are the primary visits.
Oftentimes we see families who are disconnected and don't communicate nearly often enough due to geographical challenges and time constraints on family life. Communicating via email, Facebook and Skype are modern strategies for this problem and are easy to learn!
Seniors absolutely DO have the ability to learn these programs and devices, and have FUN doing it! Seniors even amaze and delight themselves when picking up these new skills and putting them into action! If you or someone you know is struggling with the time and energy to stay connected with their family members, customized technology training and lessons are available.
Helping families stay connected, enhancing cognition, challenging the brain, learning new activities, and playing games are all great activities that promote connection and enduring health through embracing technology.
Providing more opportunity for seniors and families to stay connected and be more engaged is how we can collectively help make better the lives of others.
Chris Wilkinson is the Owner/GM for Nurse Next Door Home Care Services in Cowichan and central Vancouver Island. For questions or a free Consultation call 250.748.4357, or email Cowichan@NurseNextDoor.com