I love my 78 year old mother and am doing everything I can to help her. However, when she encounters computer trouble, she becomes frustrated and falls into a technological spiral and begins to lash out. I don’t want anything to do with her. The independent woman who taught me to look up dictionaries and be resourceful now sees an opportunity to teach me how to help myself, while also offering simple solutions that I can solve in seconds. I’m looking for results. As a result, we end up arguing.
we are not alone. According to the Pew Research Center, there are currently 62 million adults age 65 and older in the United States. That number is expected to reach 84 million by 2054, jumping from 18 percent to 23 percent of the population. This includes many elderly people and requires a tremendous amount of technical support.
Skye N. Riedahl, a professor of human development and family science at the University of Rhode Island, says, “We tend to be patient with others, so learning from members outside the family is most effective.” In some cases,” he said. As a principal investigator at the university, Liedard’s research focuses on quality of life and health issues in older adults. The university has its own technology support program in collaboration with a North American technology support nonprofit known as Cyber-Seniors.
And it’s not the only such organization. “We are excited to announce that AARP’s Aging Technology Services (OATS) and Senior Planet Education Programs Executive Director Tom Kamber said in an email. I still work, but it’s just to stay mentally sharp. ”
Cumber and an army of volunteers launched OATS in 2004 to promote digital literacy among our older peers. They accomplish this through the Senior Planet program (more on that below) and through advocacy and scholarships. OATS.org provides a glimpse into the organization’s 20-year history, outreach and connection programs, and online community portal/social network. The website also has an interactive finder where you can enter your zip code to find a Senior Planet partner site near you.
And those are just industry OGs. The good news is that there are plenty of options, some of which are free. The technical support sites listed below are specifically designed for seniors.
Having other technological options would definitely help my mom and me. Having a neutral third party solve my mother’s technical problems means I don’t have to resent the pressure of being the resident “technical guru” and she doesn’t have to either. means there is no My attempts to train her. That would free me up to focus on valuing our time together. I hope the same happens for you and those in your life.
AARP’s Senior Planet
Launched in 2015, the beginner-friendly Senior Planet website boasts a cohesive compendium of free online content for seniors, including articles, courses, lectures, demo videos, and workshops (available in English, Spanish, and Cantonese). word). Offerings range from learning how to use a smartphone to virtual exercise classes to in-person meetups. This premier senior destination served more than 500,000 people last year and shows no signs of slowing down. They even have their own podcast. The organization started with one in-person location in New York City and now has satellite locations in New York State’s North Country. Montgomery County, Maryland. Denver; San Antonio; and Miami. Virtual 1:1 training via Zoom is also available.
Service hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET. Email info@seniorplanet.org or call (888) 713-3495.
cyber senior
Cyber-Seniors was inspired by a 2014 documentary that followed a Canadian senior community learning to use the internet for the first time. The North American organization (operating in Canada and the United States) pairs senior and student volunteers to provide training and free one-on-one technical support, providing an intergenerational experience from which both parties learn. We have volunteers who speak English, Spanish, and French. The site features a newsletter, weekly event calendar, webinars, free technical support, training for volunteers and seniors, merchandise, movie clips, and a section dedicated to cybersecurity protection. The organization has partners with cyber senior programs in two-thirds of the North American continent, including the University of Rhode Island.
Service hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. Email scheduling@cyberseniors.org or call (844) 217-3057.
quincy
Quincy was founded by Ryan Green in 2020, when he was a student at Columbia Business School, to help grandfathers and other adults in their lives with technology issues. Your remote technical support session will be conducted over a secure connection and will be recorded in case you want to revisit it in the future. Quincy also offers fraud protection. Our technical support team reviews your emails, text messages, voicemail, and social media for fraudulent activity. There are also blogs with articles for non-technical people. Plans start at $5 per month, and the company also offers 14 minutes of free support per month to Medicare beneficiaries
Service hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Send a message to Quincy staff using the website’s chat support feature or call (208) 557-8466.
Kandu
CEO and creator Liz Hamberg founded Candoo in 2019 after “experiencing first-hand the frustrations that parents have felt dealing with technology.” Plans for one-on-one technical concierge support consist of a one-hour session ($75) or an annual membership ($228/year for singles, $340/year for couples). Support and training is also available in English and Spanish at the corporate membership level for senior centers, nursing homes, and other care facilities. Membership also includes a free how-to library, video conferencing tools, online shopping guides, and downloadable tablet comparison sheets.
Service hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Email support@candootech.com or call (646) 758-6606.
smarter service
Started by business partners Terry Dry and Greg Boles as a “personalized technology concierge service for seniors,” Smarter Service provides customers with personalized one-to-one technology based on the complexity of their digital needs. Provide assistance. The same concierge is assigned each time a customer uses the service. In-person training is available in the greater Los Angeles area and Orange County, California. Beautiful Scottsdale, Arizona. Columbus and Indianapolis, Indiana. Support is also available at senior centers, nursing homes, and other retirement communities. Smarter Service offers free consultations to help you choose a plan. Annual memberships start at $125 per month, but other customized packages are available.
Service hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT. Email us at info@thesmarterservice.com or call (805) 765-8348.
Updated September 27, 2024, 10:50 a.m. EDT: This article clarifies service hours for Cyber Seniors.
