Great 'how to help people who aren't online?' Hunt

Abbafan1972

My Mom keeps saying that she wants to buy a laptop, but it never seems to happen. The internet isn't expensive. She has never used a computer before.

The amount of times she's phoned me and said "can you go online for me?"

Barrowlass

I find that when something technological needs explaining the nearest polite 9 or 10 year old relative always seems to be efficient at explaining how to make things work? My first mobile phone was explained to me by an eight year old (though he did cast some comments on the simplicity of the thing and disparaged its lack of any games).

Kaz2904

That's very true Barrowlass. I'm fine with the computer and the net but we had our sky changed recently and I now have to get DS to turn it on for me as it's a mare. Both of my children have shown my MiL around the net a bit and told her about ebay and other online shops. They are 8 & 6. They have made her comfortable enough to go out and buy a laptop and get broadband which we have all been trying to get her to use for years!

I helped her last year with Christmas shopping by hunting out the deals and going via cash back sites. I also combined our orders when we wanted things from the same shops as it put us over the spend required to get free delivery. She has realised that it saves time, money and the ghastly queueing. No hunting round for a space and needing to buy meals/ snacks/ drinks out due to epic shopping trips.

SailorSam

No matter how often you tell some people of the benefits of being on-line some will never never use it. I have friend, him and his wife aren't old, late 50s they're forever complaining how expensive things are, and i'm forever showing them how much i save using Mse, but their reaction is always the same ................"The internet is stupid, we're not interested in that"
What do they say about taking a horse to water.

DoWhatULove-LoveWhatUDo

leathersofa wrote: »

It can't be said too often or too loudly that public libraries are just pure gold when it comes to providing internet access and free tuition. I get very fed up with seeing women's magazines in particular publishing letters from older women saying they can't go online 'because they can't afford it' and that this means they are excluded from some things. Leaving aside the distinct possibility that this translates, in some cases, as 'I don't want to go online', I feel these magazines shouldn't encourage Luddism when public libraries had so much money poured into this very thing by the last Labour government. Public libraries rock and it's a win-win situation - the uncomputered, so to speak, get free access and tuition, and the libraries get increased footfall to show to anyone who thinks they aren't used enough to justify their funding.

You are approaching this from the perspective of somebody who is comfortable with computers and technology in general. Many older people, particularly women are not. They don't speak the language of technology.

Older people are frightened of the internet. They don't understand what it is, how it works or how to use it. My elderly relatives have trouble with a pvr and wouldn't know where to begin with a PC. They have not grown up with the same technology that we have, and don't have games systems, mobile phones and dvd players.

For an elderly person on a fixed income they would need to give something up to pay for something they don't appreciate the value of because they don't understand it, and may not be able to use. A computer and internet connection is out of reach for many of them.

Many have sight problems or manual dexterity issues which make it even harder for them.

Libraries are all well and good but if you have no knowledge of the internet you could queue for an hour, then sit there and do nothing for an hour because you don't know how while hordes of desperate unemployed job seekers breathe down your neck.

This issue is by no means as simple as you seem to believe.

rosalie-lavender

Libraries are great if they are accessible. My Mums local library is being revamped and has closed as has the local library in my town. My library has temporarily relocated into the local shopping centre and is still right in the centre of town. My Mum's library,however has moved to a location well away from its normal place in the centre of town which means she needs to catch two buses to get to it. To an able bodied prson with a car it isn't a problem but my mum is disabled and nearly 80.

The way I help my mum is by doing her Tesco's shop for her. She sends me a list and I pick her shopping and book delivery for the day of her choice. It means she can stock up on the heavier, bulkier items and doesn't have to carry so much home on the bus. I have set her up her own online Tesco account so she gets her clubcard points and I can access her favourite items list to get brands she likes.

It saves her money because she is able to take advantage of offers that she couldn't carry if she had to catch the bus and carry it home.

It is quite easy on Tesco's and I imagine other supermarkets are the same, to have shopping delivered to a different address so a seperate account isn't essential.

dillydilly

sadly my father-in-law died last month. My mother-in-law hence allowed me to take over her finances. First act - the Car & House Insurance that she'd automatically renewed that month, total cost £580. As they were yet to start I was able to cancel them quick - though I was amazed at the 'hard sell' I got from the'over-50s friendly' Castle Cover, to the point I had to ring back the customer services and ask them to review my call as the mature telesales operator was way over the top in her use of the 'fear' insurance tactic, hardly fitting of a company suposidly pensioner friendly... A few clicks on the comparison sites and total cost down to £330, with additional cover versus the original policies. With the savings I got her a 26" flat screen telly for £180 to replace her ageing colour portable.
Now the grandchildren are happy to visit as they can plug the PS3 into the HDMI socket - so wins all round... :rotfl:

vivatifosi

I work in a library so would echo everything that RochdaleLibraryService says, particularly that we do offer free access and the MyGuide website which libraries use offers structured self-taught modules. As RLS is a new user, they can't post a link, so I will do it for them. The MyGuide site can be found here:

http://www.myguide.gov.uk/myguide/MyguideHome.do

In addition, many local community organisations offer drop-in internet cafes. These may not be open as many hours as the local library but do offer an additional option where people may not be able to travel to the library. Many community organisations also offer taster computer sessions, though these are often oversubscribed, so get in early.

redleaf_2

I volunteer in a library as a "web wizard" helping people use the computers. I provide hour sessions, with a mazimum of 2 people per session. There is never any queing or waiting because they have booked the sessions with me in advance.

I have been doing this for two months now, and all the people I have helped have been seniors, and I get a lot of "repeat business" as they can have as many sessions as they like. I find myself basically teaching them anything from mouse and keyboard skills, to getting online, to emailing, to searching the web, to pretty much anything they ask for. It is really satisfying to see people getting more confident with the technology, and they're often surprised with what they can do. Libraries provide great resources and a friendly atmosphere to anyone wanting to learn, and of course it's all free. I'd highly recommend them.

wolfehouse

instead of forcing my 85 year old father in the faraway USA to use skype
which scares the living daylights out of him
i got a 'magic jack' which allows me to phone his landline for free from the uk
(through my computer)- costs $20 per year

he can do the computer basics but it is no good trying to force him to go too far out of his comfort zone
as he justs won't as he is getting far less flexible in thought as he reaches very old age.