Seniors Flock to the Web

More over-65s log on to look up medical information, connect with family and friends

Mary Gail Hare, Baltimore Sun

Friday, July 6, 2007

Jim Redding refused to own a cell phone. And the notion of having a BlackBerry or iPod was out of the question.

Yet, within the past year, the 69-year-old Maryland resident has become not only computer savvy but also an avid Internet surfer. After taking a free course for senior citizens at the local library, Redding sends e-mails, organizes boat inspections for his yacht club and even drops in on YouTube to keep current on videos.

"I was dragged kicking and screaming" into the computer age, he said. "I used to gripe about it, but I got the basics and just kept seeing what more I could learn."

Redding is hardly alone. In recent years, seniors have been hooking up to the Internet at a rate that far outpaces the rest of the population.

Since 2000, the number of Americans older than 65 using the Internet rose more than 160 percent, said Susannah Fox, an associate director of the Pew Internet and American Life Project, which tracks the social impact of Internet use.

Over the same period, no other age segment grew by more than 70 percent.

For many, it's a question of economics, as seniors seek access to the lower-priced goods -- including drugs -- that are the hallmark of Internet commerce. They also want to keep up with the growing amount of information that has shifted to the Web and stay connected to friends and family who are communicating via cyberspace.

"They hear, 'For a lower price or more information, check our Web site,' " said Tobey Dichter, founder of Generations on Line, a nonprofit group dedicated to Internet literacy for older adults. "They want access to resources, everything from government help to getting discounts."

And when Medicare made sweeping changes to its benefit plans a year ago, the most accurate and up-to-date information was available on the Internet, Fox said. "Brochures on the many different plans were often out of date soon after they were printed."

Yet the obstacles to becoming regular computer users -- learning a new vocabulary and skills, as well as paying for the technology -- often deter people, Dichter said.

"Many seniors can't see enough reason to enter cyberspace, when the doors are too hard to open," he said. "But then seniors are shut out without electronic access to resources."

The Philadelphia-based group works to simplify Internet use for those age 65 and older, Dichter said, offering software to libraries and senior centers -- anything to get older people over unfamiliar barriers.

AARP offers many courses -- including a driver safety program -- on its Web site, in addition to listings of help centers, medical assistance and prescription information.

On a recent weekday morning at a Maryland library, a group of seniors was online, practicing finding legal, medical and prescription information, contacting officials and government agencies, and even checking on the weather.

"We had one man who quickly learned to research tax records and found out he was owed money," said Cathy Walther, 71, a library volunteer who helps teach classes.

"Computers really are the greatest assistance device since false teeth," the library's branch manager, Gregory Wollon, told the class.

For Walther, embracing the Internet has affected many aspects of her life. She is diabetic and finds foods -- and recipes -- that meet her nutritional requirements but often are not available at the local grocery store.

"I Google search and buy it online in bulk," she said. "That's how I found Irish oatmeal."

She also keeps up with medical information and stays in contact with her doctor via e-mail. Lately, she has been helping to organize her 50th college reunion through e-mail.

"I hear from people I haven't seen in years," she said.

For many seniors, the class opens the door to a world already familiar to their children and grandchildren.

"When I finish this course, I am going to buy a computer," said Jewell Hall, 69. "I came here to learn all I can first. I am a grandmother dummy with a 7-year-old grandson who knows more than I do about computers."

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/07/06/MNGVDQS0OV1.DTL

This article appeared on page A - 2 of the San Francisco Chronicle

Connecting seniors to the community, their family and you the administrator

I hope everyone is staying cool and had a wonderful July 4th Holiday. You can catch me at the CAHF conference in Dana Point in two weeks, but in the meantime we are seeing in increased interest in the industry about delivering connectivity and building community using a new crop of web-based applications and senior-friendly training. We'll attempt to profile some of these offerings over the next few months.

As I have discussed in previous postings, owner operators need to provide a connected environment for their residents. However, providing the connection is merely the first step. Without the means to leverage the Internet, you are simply providing them a powerful and possibly dangerous vehicle without teaching them how to drive.

A new company based in Keller, Texas, GenerationBridge, has developed a new tool MyBridge, which will provide the portal for the connected environment. MyBridge is an online “gated community” that includes protected email, an automatic digital photo manager, address book, shared calendar, customized weather and news, safe web sites, a “Call Me Now” button, and filtering system to protect users from spam, scams and online predators.

Benefits for the owner operators

Keeping the senior engaged – Providing access to the internet keeps the senior interested, learning, and occupied. Studies have shown that seniors who keep their minds engaged live longer and less dependent lives. Providing protected and safe access to the internet opens doors to other communities, the ability to play games and puzzles online and to access content that they are specific ally interested.

Revenue Generation – MyBridge for the owner operator is a “hosted application” of sorts that enables the owner operator to provide a hosted, managed internet service for a monthly fee that can be scaled based on the needs of the resident.

Connections to family members – MyBridge provides an open line of communication to both the resident and their family members. Leveraging email provides documented communications and for remote family members it enables to them to be updated and in communication with the community staff. In addition, getting the seniors online means getting their families more actively involved in their lives and it provides an opportunity to discuss the health of the senior with the family.

Benefits to residents

Keeping them Connected - MyBridge enables residents to connect with one another and their families, make plans and keep them both active and engaged. Community members who engage one another and their families and remain active are more likely to stay in the community.

Keeping them informed – MyBridge is accessible from the comfort of their home, their computer center or anywhere in the world. They can create personal schedules and be alerted via email when schedules change.

Provides a protected online experience – MyBridge enables residents to get online, surf the web, be informed and communicate with their families without having to worry about scammers and spammers.

Provides a voice – through MyBridge, residents are given a voice. They can communicate directly with owner operators or if the community has a web site. The owner operators can setup blogs or sections of the web site that are authored by the residents.

Features

MyBridge includes a list of features that will help the senior while online and help the owner operator communicate directly with their residents.

Protected email – MyBridge provides a protected email environment with controlled email lists that will filter spammers and scammers.

Automatic photo management – MyBridge will automatically file and manage photos sent by family members, the community or friends.

Manageable Calendar - Approved members or the senior can add events to the calendar. That way, everyone is kept up to date on family gatherings, doctor appointments and other critical events.

Safe sites – MyBridge contains a list of over 1,000 safe with the ability to for either family members or staff to add more safe sites to the users list.

Call Me Now button – this button will notify staff or family members that the resident in need of help.

Weather and News – this section of the portal can be adapted for your regional area and will keep the resident informed of any weather alerts.

Finally, MyBridge offers protection and security. A senior who feels safe online and free from threat are likely to spend more time engaged in online activities, games and communicating with relatives.

Technology one way or another will continue to penetrate assisted living facilities. Owner operators that are proactive with technology will be able to more easily communicate with the residents, keep them informed and create a more active community environment. In addition, providing these services will provide a reoccurring revenue stream that likely would have gone to someone else.