Five Computer Tips For Older Adults

Do you remember this line? ‘Space: The final frontier’? At the time, that seemed correct until the digital age hit.  Computers and the internet have opened another vast frontier that can take some education and navigation. With these five computer tips for older adults, you won’t get lost in space.

There’s a myth going around that older people are confused by high-tech issues. Many older adults are enjoying the use of the internet and state-of-the-art devices, and like everyone else, when learning a new technique, it’s a learning experience.

For those of us who came to the computer later in life, the world on the other side of the monitor can seem like a dark planet with unforgiving terrain.  At LifeFone, we want to provide you with a clearer path to get you to the other side without fear.

First things first:  Your web browser. Most likely, you have a Windows-based computer installed with the Internet browser, Explorer.  While it’s great to get you started, there are other more reliable, easier, faster and (sometimes) safer browsers than Internet Explorer.  Google Chrome and Firefox are just two other browsers from which you can choose.

With all this online exploration you’re off doing, it’s important to keep an eye on your computer’s immune system. Do you have an antivirus program installed? If so, make sure it’s up to date. An anti-virus will work to keep your computer from getting ‘sick’.  Unfortunately, attacks to gain access to our computing come from many places, and an anti-virus program is designed to keep you from keeping these attacks away.

Once you have those two things done you can:
Take advantage of health technology. Mobile devices and computers lets you keep updates on your medication schedule and stay connected with family and services in case of emergency.  If you are a LifeFone subscriber, you can take advantage of medication reminders or you might want to consider one of our apps for your smart phone. Mobile Alert™ let’s users get help fast in an emergency – even if they can’t speak. LifeFone’s Family Guard® is a user-configurable family tracking and monitoring device.

Utilize the camera: Most laptops or tablets come equipped with cameras, giving you the accessibility to your family and friends via on-line mediums that allow you to have video chats.

Last but certainly not last: Email.  There are many options available for you to send and receive email.  While nothing replaced a hand-written note, email is fast way to communicate with your loved ones.

Get someone to help you. Chances are you won’t pull your device out of the box and be ready to head into hyper-drive.  It’s new terrain, so don’t be afraid to reach out to your kids or your grand-kids for help!