When you stop to think, suddenly it becomes clear just how vast the potential is for improving the quality of your elderly parents’ lives with the internet.
Isolation. This is the most obvious benefit. The internet is designed to connect people and if you’re increasingly housebound it can be a great way to interact with others and simply feel part of society again. The elderly can participate in online book groups, find old friends in social networks or join sites related to their past, such as war veterans groups. It also helps them keep close to relatives who may be far away. Grandchildren who live on another continent can now be seen on a Skype call whilst photos and videos can be shared in an instant.
Shopping. One of the things the elderly find most frustrating is not being able to shop so easily. Mobility can make trailing round shops a problem, struggling with bags is an effort and if they no longer drive even getting to the shops in the first place can be a trial. Shopping on the internet is advertised as convenient for younger people so just think how much more true that is for the elderly.
Stimulation. There is endless variety on the net and as limitations start to narrow your parents’ lives, the web can open them up again. Beyond news, entertainment sites and even games, there’s the potential for exploration. One elderly gentleman gained huge satisfaction finding online photos of the ships he sailed on during the war whilst others have enjoyed using Google maps to revisit childhood haunts. All of this stimulation brings positive benefits for mental health.
Empowerment. One of the most depressing aspects of growing old is the sense of losing power. The internet can help restore this, not only through the feeling of having more access to the world but also through the possibilities for communication. On discussion boards the elderly can have a voice that’s heard and they are also able to contact MPs and people in authority with much greater ease.
Improving Offline Life. The resources available online can provide endless material to improve life away from the computer. The elderly enjoy hunting for new recipes to try out, finding how-to videos to learn new hobbies and even finding exercises suitable for their limitations or tips for dealing with medical conditions.
Benefits of the Computer. Being online obviously means having a computer and this also offers great potential for the elderly. Voice recognition software can deal with typing problems, pictures can be printed to show friends and they can download audio books to play back at their leisure. There is also a vast range of software offering games and entertainment, including puzzles specifically designed to keep the mind sharp.
And so the list goes on. The internet has transformed life over the past decade. More than just helping your parents benefit from that, you will also be helping them feel less cut off from a society that can start to look as though it has left them behind.