Smartphones and tablets can help ward off much of the loneliness for people with limiting disabilities like vision and hearing. There are options to enlarge print, brighten screens, and have emails and texts read aloud.
Socializing--I recently learned Senior Citizens are the largest growing demographic on Facebook. Reuniting with old friends, keeping in touch with family, and making new friends are attracting more and more Seniors.
In addition to socializing--research and entertainment bring the outside world to our fingertips.
If you know a lonely shut-in or senior, encourage them to learn how to use their phone and tablet to enhance their daily lives.
If you missed the post about Aging Easy click any of the links.
And more Aging Easy Posts are here:
I think the internet is a godsend for seniors who are willing to learn to use it. Isolation is one of the worst problems many seniors have -- especially when they can't get out anymore. I'm sorry my mom was never willing to learn. I think she would have been much less lonely. She read a lot, but she really needed more people in her life and she would have found friends with common interests on line where her hearing loss wouldn't be a problem.
ReplyDeleteI'm almost totally housebound. I can only go out when someone takes me. I'm beginning to feel like a baby, with all the paraphernalia we have to take along just to keep me breathing. The internet IS my social life, since retirement I have no other. Notice how when you're working everyone says they'll come visit you? They lie. They never intend to do so, but say that to make you feel good. Then when they don't come, you feel bad. Well I don't feel bad anymore, not since I started living on the computer every day. My friends on here are real to me. I had a heartbreaking experience Saturday and Sunday this week, one involving a dear friend, whom I never met, but talked with online and by phone. Then the Sunday night massacre happened here in MY town, and that was more sorrow. I need the internet to allow me to have people I can talk with, who understand me and those who seem to like me. Barbara Radisavljevic is right,(thanks Barbara!) as we age we need more people in our lives, and this is my way of having them. Mary, thank you also for always saying the things I think! :)
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