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Too old to use the Web?
A long-distance call came from Australia. An elderly lady's niece was ringing the retirement home to ask how her aunt was. She hadn't heard from her but knew that she was very deaf and trying to use the telephone just wouldn't work.
The call was returned to reassure the niece and to say that Joyce, who is over 90, was fine but had recently seen the doctor who could do nothing about her deafness.
This incident brought about a transformation in the life of Joyce and also in the lives of the other residents at the Abbeyfield House at 38 Lakeside Avenue -- home to ten seniors with an average age of 86.
Thanks to the donation from Charity Bingo of a computer, all residents are now able to communicate by email with their loved ones. Len, a younger resident, trains them and will help get them started. Deafness is no longer a barrier, nor is failing eyesight on a screen with large letters.
Many of the very old live in a narrowing circle of relatives, friends and acquaintances. Walking may be difficult. A driving licence given up. Peers dying off. Now with computer technology they can fire off messages and receive messages from as many people as they want.
Visitors are asked to bring a digital camera so that Joyce and others can send pictures across the globe.
But there are other ways in which computers can enhance the lives of these seniors. These include: Checking weekly Lotto numbers; Sports schedules; Checking facts at an online reference library; solving personal problems for residents such as Betty's problem with GST which was resolved on line; new recipes for meals; news from original countries of residence and finally use of the computer as a second television to watch DVD movies.
Just recently Joyce had a birthday party and twenty friends came to celebrate. Emails flooded in too.
