Getting our Grandparents Tech-ed Up

Lockdown was proof, if we needed it, that technology can be amazing when it comes to keeping in touch with family and friends. And it’s just as useful to senior citizens – increasingly we’re finding that grandma has an i-pad and our great aunt is playing poker on her tablet.

Tablets are definitely more widespread amongst seniors now says Wendy Burrows, secretary of Senior.net in Rangiora and avid tablet user herself. Senior.net provides technology support to senior citizens and Burrows says the courses they used to run were all about Word and Excel. “People don’t need that now,” she says. “Now we have drop-in sessions where people can bring their tablet or smartphone, often they’ll want to find out how to download photos, that sort of thing. It’s more about personal use.”

That personal aspect is important. If you have an elder relative you think might benefit from owning a tablet then talk to them about it first and consider some of the practical aspects of devices. Do they need something lightweight? Is the display size important? Is it easy to use – many consider Apple devices to be very intuitive but the reality is that android tablets are now pretty simple too. Or perhaps you want to consider a voice activated device – could Alexa be better than an i-pad for some seniors?

Either way, it’s often something that family members need to support. A research report funded by Internet NZ last year examined the use of digital technologies for residents in retirement communities and aged care. One of the findings was that family and friends play a key role in encouraging the use of digital technology.

“It is often a family member who purchases the device, arranges the wi-fi connection and sets up any software. Even if the resident doesn’t use technology themselves, family and friends will bring their own devices to share photos and videos,” says Dr Wendy Wrapson, a social psychologist at AUT's School of Public Health and Psychosocial Studies.

Senior.net Q&A technology sessions are on the second Tuesday of every month at the Learning Centre next door to the Methodist Church on King Street. All are welcome. For details call 03 310 7606.

Wendy Burrows, secretary at Senior.Net the organisation that helps seniors get to grips with tech, is an avid tablet user. “I get all my emails on it, I play patience and I do paint-by-numbers and I also do jigsaw puzzles – I use it everyday”, she says. And she’s not the only one,  a lot of seniors are following suit she says with tablets becoming increasingly popular at Senior.net’s drop-in help sessions.

People bring their tablets or their smartphones usually says Wendy and they get help with all sorts of things – like downloading photos or how to use a particular app or emails.

If you’re thinking of getting grandma an i-pad, or even updating an existing one, there are a few things to consider. Is weight important? Is the size of the display important? But don’t be patronising – plenty of seniors are very tech savvy but just have different requirements from their tech.