2022 Frugal Living Challenge

Blackandgold_2

We do lots of WhatsApp video calls on our mobiles with far flung friends, home and abroad. All free.

Primrose

It's very easy for young people who are up to date with technology to use all these facilities but I work with a lot of older people who really struggle with newer technologies and simply don,t have people or facilities nearby to help and teach them.

sadly in these days of austerity there are few Adult Education classes available where older people can go to get the support they need to update themselves and learn how to live in a totally digitally based environment.

i have a 95 year old acquaintance  who had the courage to get herself an  IPad and learn how to use email but she,s had no formal technology training and weeps every time something goes wrong as she has  no idea how to fix it..  

People  phone her and use "all sorts of technical terms" as she puts it, trying to help her fix things but what is really needed is quality "one to one" basic coaching to help people like this.  They,re not stupid.  They just didn,t complete their formal education in today,s modern world.  I doubt many of us would fare any better if we were given a spear, a bearskin,  forced to live in a cave and told to hunt wild animals to feed ourselves.  They are all life skills we need to be taught. 

London_1

Primrose said:

  

i have a 95 year old acquaintance  who had the courage to get herself an  IPad and learn how to use email but she,s had no formal technology training and weeps every time something goes wrong as she has  no idea how to fix it..  

People  phone her and use "all sorts of technical terms" as she puts it, trying to help her fix things but what is really needed is quality "one to one" basic coaching to help people like this.  They,re not stupid.  They just didn,t complete their formal education in today,s modern world.  I doubt many of us would fare any better if we were given a spear, a bearskin,  forced to live in a cave and told to hunt wild animals to feed ourselves.  They are all life skills we need to be taught. 

What might be of help is perhaps maybe getting youngsters involved. A local school where the youngsters are taking computer studies as part of their education. Most of what I have learned when starting to use the internet back in 2001 was trial and error at first, but then I was lucky I had my grandsons who were more than happy to show me how to do things.

 I know there are many who don't have available grandchildren to help ,but I'm sure perhaps if a local school or college asked for volunteers many young lads or lasses would be more than willing to help out and show people how to sort things out
One of my grandsons is my go-to techy guy and is now 22 and he loves to show me how to do different things on my lap-top bless him, and has done since he was 12. I now have both a Macbook Air laptop, Ipad and Iphone and all get used almost daily

Often there is a real connection between the young and the old that isn't there perhaps with a closer generation, my two daughters are busy working women with full time jobs where as the younger ones were delighted to help their Nan into the 21st century Just a thought and no harm is asking at a local school or FE college

JackieO xx

ladyholly

Primrose said:

It's very easy for young people who are up to date with technology to use all these facilities but I work with a lot of older people who really struggle with newer technologies and simply don,t have people or facilities nearby to help and teach them.

sadly in these days of austerity there are few Adult Education classes available where older people can go to get the support they need to update themselves and learn how to live in a totally digitally based environment.

i have a 95 year old acquaintance  who had the courage to get herself an  IPad and learn how to use email but she,s had no formal technology training and weeps every time something goes wrong as she has  no idea how to fix it..  

People  phone her and use "all sorts of technical terms" as she puts it, trying to help her fix things but what is really needed is quality "one to one" basic coaching to help people like this.  They,re not stupid.  They just didn,t complete their formal education in today,s modern world.  I doubt many of us would fare any better if we were given a spear, a bearskin,  forced to live in a cave and told to hunt wild animals to feed ourselves.  They are all life skills we need to be taught. 

I agree. I can do all the basic things but when new technology appears I havent got a clue what they are talking about or what things are let alone be able to use it. When home computers first stared being used my DH wrote me an "idiots guide" that took me through things stage by stage. This was before Windows which made thing much easier.. Something like that would be  great help to older people. We can still learn but because we were brought up to learn from books I think many of us still prefer the wrtten word that we can refer to again and again if needed. The  dummys guides were quite good but I am not sure they still cover computing, the cloud, skype etc.

MazzieD

I went to my local library yesterday and noticed that they have volunteer "Technology Champions" who help with learning how to use technology and any problems.  You can book a free 'One to One' session where they sit with you and go through whatever you need help with.  Might be worth asking at your local library if you have one to see if they offer something similar.

@Poppy_Golightly Your post highlighted the reality of living on your own.  It's easy to forget how hard it can be if you have kids, OH, DH or someone else around.  Yes, technology is great and I use it every day for all sorts of things but for me there is no substitute for a hug and chat with a real person.  I can cope with most things but not having a friend or someone to cuddle nearby would be soul destroying.

annieb64

I think our local Age Concern centre has sessions to help people use computers etc.

florianatwobob

 @Poppy_Golightly, I know they’re not the same as real life ones from our loved ones but this internet stranger would like to send you some virtual hugs all the same. 

RateTartExtraordinaire

I did a trade swap once with the local retired plumber who needed help with setting up something online. He fixed my tap and I talked him through his technical questions and helped him set up what he needed.

London_1

RateTartExtraodinaire said:

I did a trade swap once with the local retired plumber who needed help with setting up something online. He fixed my tap and I talked him through his technical questions and helped him set up what he needed.

That's brilliant, swapping skills is so moneysaving ,especially for older people who have skills they may not know they have ,just because they have 'always done it' I taught one of my neighbours who, bless her, is probably about a third of my age how to make biscuits and rock cakes for her children. She was so pleased she gave me her Rhubarb crown that she never used as her OH had vanished with someone else, leaving her with the kids and house to sort out

Luckily she now has a lovely chap who adores her and the children ,but she says if I ever need some muscle she will send him round and if I need shopping and the weathers grotty she will always knock on the door to see if I need anything .She's a lovely caring young lass, and a smashing neighbour and her two daughters are lovely kids 

JackieO xx

ladyholly

RateTartExtraodinaire said:

I did a trade swap once with the local retired plumber who needed help with setting up something online. He fixed my tap and I talked him through his technical questions and helped him set up what he needed.

You can't beat barter as a system. No tax to pay, no paperwork just kindness.