Empowering Our Seniors with Modern Technology
by Rene Agredano, Treasurer for the Redwood Technology Consortium and principal of Agreda Communications, a full service marketing firm in Eureka.

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We live in a youth-obsessed society, and many people have the impression that computers and the Internet are mostly for the benefit of kids and working people. In rural areas like ours, senior citizens often have less exposure to this technology. Studies show that the less a senior has access to computers, the greater the mistrust of all things new in technology, and the greater the resistance to joining the high tech revolution. However, for people who have discovered the Internet on their own, computers and the Web can open up an amazing universe for just about everyone, regardless of age.

In a study released in September by the Pew Charitable Trusts, just 13% of 12,751 polled respondents age 65 or older have Internet access, compared to 65% of those under age 30. Of those not online, 36% believe the online world is a confusing and hard place to negotiate, and 54% believe the Internet is a dangerous thing.

With or without the Internet, the world will continue to change and much of everyday life will revolve around computers and technology. Everyone must acquire computer literacy in some form or another, as technology changes the way people receive necessary services within our society. Even for the most mundane tasks, such as banking or purchasing prescriptions, everyone, including seniors, will need to be able to use computers as easily as they currently use the telephone.

This need is being met at the Humboldt Senior Resource Center, where seniors can drop in on daily computer classes. At the Center, students are shattering stereotypes of techno-phobic older seniors, by learningeverything from the basic operations of a computer, to web site design, to Internet research methodology. The lab is constantly abuzz five days a week, as students drop in for hours at a time.

?When they come in, all they want to do is turn the key and drive, but I require that they know what?s inside of computers...there?re 4.5 million transistors in this!? says Barry Savage, Computer Lab Coordinator. ?I try to create a non-threatening atmosphere, and stress that they don?t need to be afraid of breaking the computer,? which is a big concern of many people, he added. His students, ranging in ages from 60 to 80 and beyond, are eager to learn, and catch on faster than many people imagine. ?I tell them, there are no stupid questions. It?s the nature of technology. It?s constantly changing, and everyone, no matter what level they?re at, is in the same position of making mistakes in order to learn.?

Mary Pacholke, a new student, agrees. ?You just have to play around with it, and mess up, and try new things, until finally, you find your way around.? Pacholke, a former chemist and holistic health practitioner, came into the lab with a basic understanding of email functions, but in just a few short weeks began learning how to build a website just for the fun of it.

A 1999 MacArthur Foundation study showed that keeping the mind active on a daily basis is likely to lead to healthier aging. Doctors studying the effects of aging agree, and add that seniors who know how to get around on the Internet feel increased community participation, which is crucial for those who can?t get out as much as they would like to.

Seniors are about to comprise almost 20% of our US population. As more people age, it's vital that those of us, who possess computer skills, encourage seniors to learn all they can about computers and the Internet. We live in a fast-paced, world where families now live miles apart from one another, and even small communities like ours are becoming more fragmented. Without knowing how to reach out to the world through the power of the computer, our elders risk isolation and a potential loss of day-to-day living necessities. Let?s ensure this doesn?t occur, by teaching classes, donating good computers to the Center, and encouraging our older neighbors to discover the adventure of technology.