Home » Home & Family » Tech Support
Category:

Tech Support

selective focus of smiling senior woman typing on laptop at home
Tech Support

Become one of the Tech-Savvy Older Adults in 5 Steps

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

Did you know you can become one of the tech-savvy older adults today?

Technology use is growing across people of all ages.

And while the obstacle to computer literacy among older adults has been the assumption that it’s best suited for the younger generation, technology use among adults is soaring.

According to a report by the Pew Internet and American Project, in 2014, only 11% of older adults owned a smartphone.

Today, middle-aged and older adults are embracing technology more than ever.

This is evident by a study that suggests that approximately 70% of seniors are now using the internet.

They use the internet to stay connected with their loved ones, stay informed, etc.

Of course, there is still a percentage of seniors who are yet to embrace the technology.

In this article, you’re going to learn some practical tips for seniors on how to become more tech-savvy.

But before that, let’s learn a few things.

Benefits of Being Tech-Savvy

Given how technology is deployed in all aspects of our lives across generations, there is no reason why seniors shouldn’t be more tech-savvy.

Besides, technology is more than Snapchat and Amazon shopping.

Tech-savvy older adults have an easier time staying connected to their loved ones.

Older adults who are tech-savvy also relieve caregivers of some hustles.

In case you’re wondering why older adults should be tech-savvy, here are the reasons to convince them.

Improved safety

With the advancement in technology, there comes improved safety.

These days, family members don’t need to worry about allowing their loved ones to stay alone at home thanks to the availability of personal monitoring devices.

These devices allow monitoring of the wearer from a distance and can help to detect any danger directed to older adults.

Tech-savvy seniors can seek assistance with just a press of a button.

If your loved one likes to walk around, have them carry a GPS-enabled device or get them a simple tracker to wear.

This way, you can tell where they are at any time and in case they need help.

For older adults who live at home alone, a home alert system could help to improve their safety.

Socialization

The greatest benefit of modern technology is the ability to allow us to communicate and socialize with the most minimal effort and cost-effectively or even free.

These days’ smartphones and tablets are programmed in a way that they can display larger buttons, icons, and brighter screens for older adults with impaired eyesight.

Some high-end devices also offer the option to have texts read out loud by the device instead of straining eyes to read tiny texts manually thanks to AI and machine learning technologies.

There is also an abundance of social media, texting, and video chatting apps that allow seniors to easily stay connected with friends and loved ones without having to travel.

This ability to stay in touch with others helps older adults in combating feelings of isolation and depression which are common problems faced by seniors living alone.

Entertainment

Older adults can download games, hobby apps, high-quality movies, or stream TV services on their smartphones.

There are mountains of games online that can keep older adults busy.

Seniors can also find puzzles and other types of games that stimulate their minds and keep their brains active.

Medication management

As we age, our brainpower starts to decline. We start to forget things easily. For seniors taking certain medications at particular times of the day, it’s easy to skip important medicines. Even caregivers can get busy and forget to give older adults some medicine.

Thankfully, medical experts working around the clock have created medication apps that send alerts when it’s time to take medicine.

Some apps are designed for monitoring general health so your doctor can use this information to administer the right medicine.

Convenience

With modern technology, shopping for groceries or other essential items online is a breeze.

Tech-savvy older adults can use their smartphones or tablets to order items online and have them delivered to their doorstep.

Learning is also a breeze thanks to modern technology.

If there is something new you want to learn more about, just open a browser on your mobile phone and Google it.

Older adults can also join online classes and learn a few things to keep their brains engaged and active.

As you can see, there are many benefits of technology for older adults.

Tips to Become Tech-Savvy

Follow the tips below:

1. Overcome your fear

Exploring something new in life can be intimidating and dreadful. You aren’t sure whether you’ll get things right or wrong.

But there is one thing you should remind yourself of:

If others made it, why not you?

The reality is that there are tens of thousands of older adults out there who became tech-savvy in their older ages.

And the good news is that the starting point is always the difficult one.

Besides, fear is what keeps us from trying something new.

Look at the things you were once afraid of trying that you’re currently good at. See how you conquered fear and apply the same.

2. Be positive

Your attitude determines your altitude. You must have learned or heard of this saying.

In simple terms, having a positive attitude will bring you up higher in life no matter the situation.

So first, begin with an “I can do it” attitude towards learning and embracing the technology.

It’s possible that your close friends have probably demoralized you before and perhaps this is keeping you from thinking you can make it.

Let go of all your friends’ opinions and find out your own.

Who knows, you might find it a lot more exciting than you may have thought.

3. Have a copy of your passwords

As one grows old, forgetfulness becomes a constant habit.

Older adults are known to forget even the most important things like car keys, glasses, etc.

This means that seniors can forget their passwords easily.

For that reason, it’s recommended to have a backup plan.

This includes writing down passwords in your journal (ensure no one but only you can access the journal).

In case you log out of your online accounts and you forget your passwords, you can easily retrieve them from your journal.

4. It takes time

Becoming tech-savvy at an older age is no easy task.

You learn a new concept today and tomorrow you’ve forgotten everything.

It can be frustrating and demoralizing.

But take your time. Explore new topics taking short breaks when you feel exhausted.

Give your brain the right information it can absorb and don’t be too hard on yourself.

Stay true to yourself and know that you cannot grasp everything in a day. After learning a new concept, spend some time practicing it continually so that it can stick in your mind.

5. Be reachable

While it is advisable to power off electronic gadgets we’re not using to save power, you can switch your computer when not in use but keep your mobile phone on so that people can reach you easily.

Join computer clubs

The internet has all sorts of organizations and clubs where older adults can learn almost everything from gardening to cooking, and technology.

The good news is that some of these clubs and organizations are free to join.

Head over to Google; you’ll find thousands of these clubs.

Befriend Google

In case you have no one to ask, Google is your close confidant.

As long as you’re connected to the internet, you can ask Google about anything and the search giant will provide you with exactly what you want.

Go to Google and search “how to type information on Microsoft word” and see the mountains of information you’ll get.

Use how-to online videos

YouTube is a goldmine when it comes to learning a new skill. You can find almost any video tutorial from farming to manufacturing and technology.

The good news is that all the tutorials on YouTube are free.

Just go to YouTube and enter the keywords related to the topic you want to learn with a “how-to” at the end of the keyword.

For instance, you could enter “save a Microsoft word document how-to”.

You can also buy professional video tutorials from Udemy.

Subscribe to tech-savvy publications

This is one of the best ways to get constant updates and knowledge relevant to the topics you want to master for free.

Explore as many websites and publications as you can that can offer you the right information then subscribe to their email list.

This way, you’ll be receiving planned emails with valuable information.

Follow their social media profiles to learn the information they post every day.

Practice, Practice, Practice!

Having done all the above, and even during the entire learning process, keep on practicing.

They say practice makes perfect and there is no better place this mantra can be used than when you’re looking to become a tech-savvy older adult.

No matter the mountains of knowledge you learn, it doesn’t make sense if you’re not using it practically.

To get better at something, you have to learn and practice it.

Author Bio:
Nick van Migrot is a professional health expert for seniors. When he is free, he usually enjoys providing assignment help to high school and college students. Besides, he is the author of the best essay writing service review

 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Senior couple using modern technology
Tech Support

5 Most Important Devices for Seniors

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

The market for wearable medical devices is becoming one of the fastest-growing in the consumer electronics segment. This is due to the increasing role of “age-appropriate” users in the economy and concern for improving their quality of life. “Snob” studied this and other types of modern gadgets, which are difficult for older people to do without.

Most gadget manufacturers see as their main target audience people under 30, technologically advanced and ready to experiment with new devices and technologies, but older people often turn out to be an equally, if not more, attractive target audience.

In the U.S., for example, as of 2020, 16.6% of the population was age 65 or older, and the Department of Health predicts that number will rise to 21.7% by 2040. To win the attention of this audience, manufacturers have to look for fundamentally new approaches to gadget development.

  1. Smart modules for familiar devices

The most obvious technique for manufacturers is to add the prefix “smart” to devices already familiar to seniors, such as pill containers. Such devices connect via Bluetooth to a smartphone and monitor the frequency of medication intake and can signal either the owner himself or his doctor or relatives about missed medication intake. One of the best-known manufacturers is the U.S. company Tricella, its smart pill container sells for $59 on Amazon.

Another U.S. company, AdhereTech, offers a smart pill container that, in addition to monitoring medication timing, can measure the number of pills remaining to avoid cases where the drug suddenly runs out or the patient takes too much medication, which can cause an overdose. AdhereTech works directly with clinics and pharmaceutical companies without offering its devices at retail.

The startup Abiogenix created its smart pill case, which, among other things, can be remotely blocked if a patient abuses the medication. The development is promising, but mass sales are still a long way off.

In the same category are blood pressure monitors and electronic glucose meters that connect to a smartphone and allow blood pressure and blood sugar levels to be plotted, or to signal sudden changes and even send an alarm to the doctor if readings reach threatening levels.

One of the first smart glucose meters was introduced back in 2013 by iHealth Labs, a major manufacturer of medical gadgets, at the CES exhibition in Las Vegas. Subsequently, one of the largest smartphone manufacturers, Xiaomi, bought a stake in the company – now the iHealth Labs smart glucometer sells for about $40.

  1. Watches with additional functions

Quite a number of manufacturers offer smart watches aimed at seniors: such devices usually have a larger screen and larger icons, as well as a physical alarm button on the case.

Among the most famous projects is the Omate Wherecom S3 from the Chinese company Omate, which originally specialized in children’s smart watches. Unfortunately, these watches can do nothing special but count heart rate, sound an alarm and inform about the whereabouts of an elderly person, and the size of the dial will in any case be a problem for people with impaired vision, so the advisability of buying such a device for $150 or more is left to the discretion of the potential owner.

The American company CarePredict’s Tempo project looks a bit more promising. Tempo is a wrist device without a screen that has a two-way voice communication function that can be activated by the owner or a person whose smartphone is entered into the device’s memory, but that is not Tempo’s main function. The device is equipped with several sensors, which in addition to the standard pulse counting are able to determine what the person is doing: whether he brushes his teeth, lies down, sits, eats or drinks.

CarePredict has developed a complex system of behavioral patterns based on a neural network that studies a person’s habits and is able to independently determine if his or her behavior becomes suspicious. For example, according to the authors of the project, the system is able to determine if a person is unwell, often before he or she realizes it himself or herself. The basic price of the device is $160.

For the elderly, who are no strangers to considerations of prestige when choosing devices, Swiss Limmex offers a wristwatch with alarm button and location detection, made in the tradition of Swiss watch design, for $400 and up.

  1. Gadgets for controlling individual symptoms

Another important category of devices for the elderly focuses only on solving certain problems that are common to many, but not all elderly people. For example, the American company Lift Labs has designed a spoon for people suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

The device detects hand shake using an accelerometer and compensates for it with a special electrical device. In September 2014, Lift Labs was bought by Google and is now part of Google X’s special projects department; the spoon itself can be purchased online for about $200.

  1. Smart Home Technologies

The American company HoneyCo offers smart home technology for consumers who are not always confident with their smartphone, primarily for the elderly who have decided to live independently and not move into a nursing home or with relatives.

The HoneyCo smart home uses a system of a large number of sensors connected to all household appliances; this system monitors all events occurring in the house and sounds an alarm if something has deviated from predetermined scenarios. For example, the homeowner’s children may receive an alarm if the kitchen stove is left on longer than a preset time, a door or window is left unlocked overnight, or if the homeowner has not been outdoors and has not shown any activity for longer than a preset time.

  1. Exoskeleton

A separate direction in the development of gadgets for the elderly is serious and expensive devices that have not yet been used in mass practice, but in the future may dramatically change the way people with disabilities live and feel. For example, exoskeletons that would allow anyone to lift heavier than their own weight and cover distances inaccessible even to trained athletes.

By Tanner Wilson

Tanner Wilson is a history tutor and works as an essay writer in his spare time. If you are a student and need the professional assistance, Tanner advices you the best paper writing service

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
5 Strategies for Helping Seniors with Technology
Tech Support

5 Strategies for Helping Seniors with Technology

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

These days, digital devices are an essential part of almost everybody’s life. With a smartphone in every pocket, a tablet in every living room, and computers powering seemingly every business on the planet, it’s clear we’re living in a digital world. But for many seniors — even those who are used to some older technologies — the rate of change in modern technology is too much, too fast. 5 Strategies for Helping Seniors with Technology
That can make it tough to teach seniors how to use new phones, new computers, and the array of apps and services that might improve seniors’ lives. But with patience, smarts, and maybe a little bit of help, it’s possible to teach your mom or dad how to use these new technologies.

1. Choose Intuitive Devices

While digital devices used to be designed for power and functionality first, there has been a trend in user-friendly design over the past several years. One result of this trend has been a rise in intuitive technologies. Intuitive devices and apps are designed so that users can usually guess how things work, without the need for instruction. While most seniors will still need coaching with intuitive devices and apps, you can remove many stumbling blocks by choosing technologies they feel more comfortable using.

2. Don’t Overwhelm Seniors

One common mistake that people make when teaching seniors how to use technology is to overwhelm them. This can happen when you teach your parent how to use a phone or tablet, but don’t spend as much time teaching them how to use specific applications. The best thing to do is to teach your parent one use for their device at a time, and not go overboard with too many applications for them to keep track of.

3. Create Cheat Sheets for Common Problems

Typically, seniors will have one or two problem areas that crop up when they learn how to use a new device. One way to get around these is to create handwritten cheat sheets that explain how to resolve specific problems. (After all, even with their shiny new laptop, most seniors will still find pen and paper useful).

4. Take On Tech Support Duties

If your mom or dad are trying to get the hang of a new technology, make sure they know you’re willing to help them out when they need it. Too often, parents feel embarrassed asking questions, or children become impatient with seniors who are just looking for honest answers. So let your parent know that you’re just a call away if they find themselves stuck or frustrated, and take care to answer their questions with kindness and patience.

5. Hire a Technology Helper

At Visiting Angels, one program that’s become increasingly popular in recent years is our Social Care Program. This program teaches seniors how to use social technologies, including cell phones, email, Facebook, Skype, FaceTime, ecommerce sites, and more. This way, seniors have a knowledgeable helper around the home on a regular schedule.
If you think that your loved one could benefit from a helping hand with modern technology, your local Visiting Angels will be happy to help. Contact your local Visiting Angels office today to learn more about how we help seniors learn and use digital technologies.
5 Strategies for Helping Seniors with Technology 5 Strategies for Helping Seniors with Technology 5 Strategies for Helping Seniors with Technology

5 Strategies for Helping Seniors with Technology

5 Strategies for Helping Seniors with Technology 5 Strategies for Helping Seniors with Technology 5 Strategies for Helping Seniors with Technology 5 Strategies for Helping Seniors with Technology
 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
couple of seniors on the terrace having fun and enjoying - man with laptop
Tech Support

7 Benefits of Social Media for Older Adults

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

Social media is a website where people all over the world gather to socialize over the internet. It’s a large online community where people create a network of friends and acquaintances. Most platforms allow to set up gatherings, grassroots movements, charity funds, and many other social movements that can take place in the real world.

Humans are social beings and need the company of others; that’s why we invented social media. It’s an excellent way to keep up with distant family, relatives, and friends. More so, these sites allow you to stay in touch with businesses, organizations, and many other points of interest.

Sure, social media shouldn’t be an exclusive way of socialization. The platform keeps everybody connected virtually to allow the possibility of meeting up and spending quality time together. Unfortunately, that’s not possible in some cases where distance, money, and time schedules are too problematic. Nevertheless, technology helps us bridge the gaps through chat rooms and voice/video calls that are readily-available through social media.

Older adults and seniors could greatly benefit from social media. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) chairwoman, Lisa Marsh Ryerson, explains how 40% of people over 65 experience considerable loneliness. The pandemic exacerbates these stats as social distance, lockdowns, and curfews prevent social gatherings. Here’s where social media can help. The only issue is that not everybody’s proficient in operating a computer and navigating the internet. Statistics show that almost 30% of people over 65 don’t use the internet. Unfortunately, digital illiteracy isn’t the only cause: 23% of older adults have a health condition that bars them from reading. Some apps help with reading, listening, and navigation but most of the time, the people in question aren’t auto-sufficient to install such programs. Before looking at social media’s main benefits, let’s summarize some ways to learn how to use a computer and go beyond health barriers.

Where can I learn to use the computer/internet?

Learning how to use a PC from specialized private companies might prove the fastest way to learn, but it’s also the most expensive. Consider other alternatives such as:

  • Local schools and community colleges
  • Government-sponsored PC courses
  • Freelance home tutors

What software helps navigation for people with health issues?

 

Studies show that 77% of seniors need assistance when learning new technologies. It’s essential to have a tutor when learning how to use a computer, the internet, or any new technology. Otherwise, the frustration from not understanding might shut down the individual and eliminate future learning possibilities. Asking for help from a relative or social worker might be the best first step to get online.

Now that we got some specifics out of the way, let’s get into the seven benefits of social media for older adults and seniors:

Long-distance family and relatives

Social media websites like Facebook and Instagram are perfect places to find distanced family members. After creating an account and putting up some photos of yourself and a few biography lines, you’ll first get in touch with your closest family and friends. The website’s algorithm will identify people you might know and suggest that you add them to your friend list. Similarly, once you register, your friends and family will see you online and do the same thing.

Social media’s specialty is connecting people who might know each other through geo-localization, big data, and different complex algorithms assisted by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Similar search automation means that you won’t do the heavy lifting when browsing for contacts. The only thing that depends on you is accepting or rejecting friend requests.

New acquaintances and old friends

Social media is an excellent way not just to get in touch with old friends, but to make new ones, as well. There are a number of ways you can connect with a new person and develop a relationship. For instance, you’re able to comment on news videos, movie trailers, and other types of media. Your comment becomes public, and other people can see it or even reply to it. One thing leads to another, and you get a friend request from the person you’re talking to in the comment section. You can now talk privately with the person and develop a valuable friendship online that can materialize in real-life.

Through networking, you can connect with old friends from your childhood. By adding friends of friends, you may stumble upon a dear lost pal that the algorithm missed. There are even private groups that specialize in getting together lost friendships.

Social engagement in the community

Ever wanted to change something in your neighborhood? Or do charity acts in your community? Well, with social media, galvanizing people is much easier and more effective. You can set up or participate in local, national, or global social campaigns.

Social media suggests gatherings you might be interested in, just like it recommends people you might know. A typical event indicates the time and place of the meeting, alongside a brief explanation. For example, protesting a new law, showing support for veterans, helping underprivileged families, and similar activities are commonplace on social media.

After forming a friend network and gaining a little experience, you too can organize an event with just a couple of clicks. As long as you respect the rules and regulations, you can create the most imaginative event that comes to mind. Maybe you’d like to organize a park outing club or a late-night online conference group; the possibilities are endless.

Education and instruction

The internet is infinite, and so are the educational resources on social media. There are videos about cooking the perfect turkey to industry-specific training material. In any case, educational videos are excellent tools for everybody, regardless of age. It stimulates the mind and provides easy-to-learn knowledge through narration, schematization, and simulation.

Virtually any social media website has a search bar, usually identifiable by the magnifying glass symbol. There, you can type your interests and get numerous videos, MP3 recordings, e-books, and other valuable resources.

Great place for entertainment

Social media is full of entertainment in many forms. Music, short movies, hilarious comment sections, witty photos, and memesare just a couple of examples of social media fun.

More so, platforms like Facebook have tons of games you could play directly on your internet browser. You could even play cooperative games with several other friends. It may seem like kid’s play for some. Still, computer games are healthy occupations for older adults as they improve cognitive functions in the brain. Video games relax the user and promote pleasure hormone secretion.

Other ways of entertainment include subscribing to social media groups. There are two types:

  • Public groups where everyone can see the posts and participate in the discussion.
  • Private groups where you first need to get accepted before participating or seeing published posts.

 

These inner communities cater to their specific interests such as military, sports, hobbies, world affairs, and everything in-between.

More business opportunities

Social media connects not only people but businesses and institutions worldwide. It’s a useful platform for professional networking of any kind. You can find everything from individual freelancers to multi-continental corporations. On top of your personal profile, you can create a business profile to further your horizons in the vast sea of capitalism.

Furthermore, most sites have a marketplace section where people sell, buy, and trade different items. Maybe you’d like to organize a garage sale or buy something at a discount. Both new and used objects are imported and exported globally through social media by the thousands each year.

The marketplace also has a job trading section where employers and workers can interact. Here you can find computer home tutors, people that will mow your lawn, etc.

Feeling connected to the world

Finally, the last point of our list refers to a particular feeling when surfing on social media. More specifically, the idea that you’re connected to everybody and everything. Although you can’t be friends with all the people in the world, you could theoretically reach anyone through social media. The network is enormous and intertwined, so even if you’re not directly connected to a stranger in Shanghai, you’re indirectly connected to him through a “friends of friends” web.

It may not seem as much for some, but it helps remind lonely people that they’re not completely isolated. Social media gives the possibility to solitary people to connect and ease the suffering of being alone. That’s why there are so many dedicated support groups online.

Social media used correctly has nothing but benefits for older adults. It reconnects family, old buddies, and forges new friendships. Social media is a great way to participate in your community, form interest groups, and seek new business opportunities. There are many resources for educational and entertainment purposes, all while keeping connected to the whole wide world.

By Nick van Migrot

Nick van Migrot is an award-winning content and essay writer from Los Angeles, California. He’s a best bet when it comes to topics such as business management, digital marketing, and finance. He also writes for Bestessay.com. Nick is the father of a lovely toddler and a semi-professional long-distance runner. Hit him up on Twitter.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Senior couple using laptop
Tech Support

Why should seniors learn to manage a computer?

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

Why do we call a younger generation a digital one? The reason is that adults are more or less afraid of all the digital novelties these days. They are used to traditional means of communication and don’t find enough motivation to master new computer skills. But being able to work with the computer is important these days. Why? Let’s answer the question.

Daily routine is easier with the computer use

Digital advancements touched every area of human life. We deal with mobile devices, laptops, and other computer services daily. They are present in hospitals and shops, in small stores and libraries. They are everywhere, and if you don’t want to miss the opportunities, you should teach your seniors to work with all these new staffs. Everything from banking to catering is online.

If you don’t know at least basic things about new online systems, you won’t be able to manage regular tasks, such as grocery shopping or paying the bills. To be true, you can still use traditional methods to deal with your tasks. But technical advancement is right around the corner. If you work in a college or university, you need to help your students with a research paper online. Would it be easy for you to provide decent assignment help remotely if you don’t know how to deal with computers?

Free time with computers is much more interesting

Another reason to learn how computers work is to spend your free time with pleasure. You may now observe how easy it is to listen to your favorite musician, find yourself listening to a live concert or participate in an online conference. This would be impossible without the basic knowledge of computing.

Communicating is impossible without computers

These days, parents can bond with their children or with other family members through online apps. If your parents or senior family members don’t want to learn computing for work purposes, you can encourage them to do it for communicating with their relatives. What can be easier than calling a friend or family member when you’re far from each other? Even with the most basic skills in computing, you can connect with your beloved people online.

Basic computer skills to master and use everyday

You know what’s the importance of mastering computer skills. But how many things do you need to work on to become a real expert in computing? You don’t need to work on an exhaustive list of skills. It is enough to develop basic skills. What are they?

  • Being able to identify computer parts is a good start for a senior.
  • The ability to open and close the files on the main screen is another step towards your skillful background.
  • You should also learn how to connect to the Internet, write a message and send it.
  • It would be a great and important skill if you learn how to work with pictures, save them and then find them in the apps.
  • If you want to get more advanced in computing, manage your papers samples and work with the documents, you need to manage storage concepts and work with folders.
  • Synchronizing the materials and working with the cloud storage will also be beneficial for you.

 

These are basic skills that you need to master. They will help your seniors to become more advanced in computing and figure out how basic processes work. But what if your parents or older people aren’t ready to learn hard? How to learn computing easier? In the following section, we will cover the issue and tell you how to help seniors manage the new information they receive.

Tips to teach senior people computing skills

If you want to teach your parents to work with the computer, you should follow the guidelines:

  • Use plain language. You’re used to the jargon words and phrases. But you will have to explain what the words mean and then move to the actual process to be learned. Therefore, try to use regular language and substitute complicated words.
  • Adjust every topic to the sphere of your parents’ interests. When you find the relevant arguments why learning this or that skill is important, they will be more encouraged to study.
  • Let your parents play with the devices. If they want to touch the screen or mouse, feel the wires or move them around, let them do the childish things. While playing, they can remember important things about the computer organization.
  • Be patient and practice. You can’t show your inpatient attitude. Older people need more time to comprehend even the easiest process and learn to manage them. Thus, you need to be slow and patient when teaching seniors.

 

Where to look for basic computer classes for seniors?

It happens that you can’t be present to help your seniors with computers. You should find specific computer lessons to help your parents or older relatives soak the information better in such cases. On the Internet, there are so many classes and online courses for seniors. They focus on the basic skills. The first thing you should do is search YouTube. It is a free platform. If you don’t have money for online courses, you can open YouTube and find the relevant videos.

If you want a more complex and holistic approach to computer skills learning, you can benefit from online courses. Skillful Senior, Senior’s Guide to Computers, and many other resources are suitable for older people.

But if you need a ​research paper helper to manage your computer skills task or if you have a question: “Where can I find someone to write my essay on Senior’s Guide to Computers?”, it is better to ask for help. And you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for it.

Author Bio:

Oscar Mitchall is a professional writer in the field of research papers help, based in the USA. Writing is one of the things he loves the most. And that’s why he is always eager to provide our readers with recommendations on careful pet treatment.

 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Senior Couple Using Computer
Tech Support

Basics of Computer Literacy for Seniors

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

We are in the age of computers or information that is brought about by the Digital Revolution. The introduction of computers has made life easier for many people, although they have also rendered many people jobless.

These days, if you know how to use a computer, you don’t have to worry when looking for the direction to a restaurant or important information on the internet. You can ask Google everything you want and the giant won’t charge you anything for availing the information for you.

A study by Microsoft suggests that the average employee uses a computer at least 7 hours a day while white-collar employees use computers to send and receive emails 6+ hours a day.

This shows that computers have changed the way we do business. It has made it simple to connect with customers and changed our collaboration with others at work.

In this article, we will talk about the basics of computer literacy which make your life easier.

Why Computer Knowledge is Essential

Being able to search and retrieve information from search engines can be considered as computer literacy; however, some people cannot do past that with computers.

Nevertheless, if you can seek answers from Google, you are a step ahead of acquiring computer skills. If what you can do with your computer is searching for information from the internet and nothing further than that, we will show you how you can freely learn basic computer literacy to make your life easier.

What is the definition of computer literacy?

First of all, a computer literate is a person at the age of 5 to infinity who can operate a computer on his or her own. That means this person is familiar with the basic hardware and software concepts and can use a computer to send emails, type things in a Word processor, and enter data in spreadsheets.

With that in mind, here are some basics of computer literacy you need to know.

1. Removing Junk from Your PC

Companies will trick you and the last thing you see is a computer full of crap. This occurs, especially when downloading free stuff from the internet like viruses or other applications.

If you noticed a Yahoo toolbar on your system that you didn’t install yourself, that’s caused by crapware. This is one of the culprits when it comes to computer problems, especially for a Windows computer.

Well, it shouldn’t worry you more, just remove that crap and be careful when installing any program on your computer.

This way, your life will be easier when using your computer since you will not suffer the frustrations of a slow-loading machine.

2. File-Sharing Between Computers

Sometimes you will want to give your coworker or colleague in school a file but since your flash drive isn’t working, you are left with no option but to give them your computer and return it to you once they are done.

You don’t have to. You can share files between your computer and your friends, colleague’s or the whole department instantly, as long as you are using the same wireless network. You can also use the Dropbox app to share files of any size as well.

This improves collaboration and eliminates the inconveniences of having to transfer using flash drives which are prone to viruses.

3. Safeguarding Personal Information

Although technology through the internet has simplified our lives, it’s not always a safe playground.

Just recently, data and information for about 12 million quest diagnostic patients were exposed in third party breach according to the Identity Theft Resource Center.

That means information is vulnerable to attacks at any time and this requires one to safeguard their private and confidential information, lest you find your departmental data being shared on social media without your consent.

You need to use hard-to-guess passwords, avoid including personal information in your photos and most important of all, verify public wireless networks before using them.

Well, safeguarding your personal information may sound easier but even as you read this post, chances are that your information can be intruded and leaked without your knowledge because you haven’t put the necessary safety measure for your information.

4. Creating Data Backups

Setting up a backup system isn’t something hard. It’s something you can do in a few minutes but can save you from future frustrations. Besides, you only do it once and forget it and most Windows computers come with backup tools such as Apple’s Time Machine and Windows Backup.

It’s worth noting that while the backup system will help you big time, it’s only when your computer crashes or fails to start but when your offices catch fire or the computer is stolen, you lose all your important information. That’s why it’s good to learn how to backup information online. This would keep your information safe and help you access it everywhere at any time.

5. Keeping Your Computer Safe from Viruses

Cases of virus attacks aren’t a new thing these days. Just the other day a report by McAfee showed that cyberattacks using the file-locking virus have more than doubled.

Well, you can protect your computer from viruses easily than you may think. However, you need to understand the difference between viruses and other types of attacks so that you find out how to stay safe from them.

There are good antivirus programs out there both free and paid for. Although the free ones are good, they aren’t as effective as the paid-for ones.

You can also protect yourself from viruses by downloading only programs you trust, avoiding clicking on suspicious links, and not using external flash drives you don’t trust.

6. Using Shortcuts to Execute Tasks Quickly

Computers are designed in a way that they can handle multiple tasks concurrently than humans.

Using shortcuts can help you execute tasks much faster. For instance, you don’t have to use your mouse to open the command prompt. Just press Windows icon+R, then type cmd on the windows that appear- this is for Windows computer though.

If you wish to print a document, press Ctrl+P, or Ctrl+S, to save a document and to open a new tab on your browser press Ctrl+T.

There are many shortcuts you can use to make things easier although you will have to use theme several times before you can get used to every shortcut.

7. Remote Computer Access

You must have traveled with your laptop only to realize that you left some important information on your home computer. This happens since life is also busy and because you want to catch up with the first flight, the last thing that strikes your head is you didn’t transfer all the files you wanted to use in your presentation.

It gets better.

If you have Dropbox installed on your home computer, you can access your files everywhere. Also, other apps like TeamViewer allow users to log into another computer no matter where it is placed.

8. Regular Computer Maintenance

You can keep your computer running like new even after using it for several years, but you must keep it maintained regularly.

Nothing’s complicated here. You just need to defragment or clean up temporary files.

There are various ways you can also keep your computer running fast and smoothly out there. For instance, you could install a cleaner program like the CCleaner and many others which can do it for you automatically every time you start your computer.

9. Setting Up and Troubleshooting Wi-Fi Issues

You don’t have to save the number of your ISP. You can set up and troubleshoot Wi-Fi issues on your own. Well, it can be frustrating to have network hitches and if you don’t know how to go about remedying the situation, you may end up hitting your router or modem hard with a blunt object.

Here is the thing: If you find your router needing frequent rest, chances are that the Wi-Fi traffic is clogged or it is overheated. These and very many other issues you can solve them without seeking help from an expert. Sometimes changing the location of your router can make a huge change.

Now that you’ve learned the basics of computer literacy, we hope you will not scratch your head the next time you find yourself in some situations we have mentioned above.

Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can improve your computer skills.

Easy Ways to Improve Your Computer Knowledge

Did you know that these days if you don’t have basic computer hardware and software skills you look like you leave in a yet-to-be explored world?

In the job market, an employer will give preference to candidates with computer skills because hiring a candidate who lacks computer skills means the company will have to incur expenses training you.

Well, don’t be left out. Here are easy ways to boost your computer knowledge.

· Determine what computer skills you need to learn

If you are looking to learn computer skills to improve your employability, look at most of the job descriptions associated with your position. This is where you can tell what employers are looking for.

· Learn the basics first

Ideally, you will want to learn how to start the computer- huh! You must be of a generation-long gone if you can’t start a computer in this day and age.

Once you know how to start a computer, there are plenty of free resources you can use to learn the skills you want.

· Use Google

· Learn the shortcuts

· Train someone

So there you have it: Basics computer literacy which makes your life easier. We hope this article helps you.

By Eric H Anderson

Who can write my assignment cheaply? Did you just ask that question? Well, Eric is a proficient freelance writer who specializes in academic writing and blogging. With more than 8 years in the writing industry, Eric has helped thousands of students and companies with their content writing needs. He is an expert in Economics, Modern Accounting, Business Finance, and Digital Marketing. Feel free to connect with him on Facebook or LinkedIn.

 

 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
senior woman is using smartphone
Tech Support

5 Mobile Apps for Seniors to Make Life Easier

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

There is no denying that we cannot live without technology.

And even though the seniors aren’t so easy to change with times, a study by the Pew Research Center has shown that 67% of older people above 65 years are already using the internet. The same study suggests that 42% of seniors own smartphones.

To make life easier for seniors, developers are working around the clock to create mobile apps that help this older generation undertake their daily activities effortlessly.

So currently, there are tens of thousands of mobile apps for seniors out there. This makes it more difficult to pick the best app that can address the needs of seniors. Well, we did our in-depth research and looked into a ton of mobile apps and found these to be the best ones.

These apps can be used on almost all smartphones and can help to give seniors access to medical information, music, connect them with their friends and family, etc.

So, without much ado, let’s get into the list of useful apps for senior citizens.

1. MedWatcher

For seniors, scheduling medication and exercise can be challenging. The last thing you want to see is skipping important medicines.

Fortunately, with MedWatcher you can know when it’s time to take your medicines or go for some exercise.

But the app does more than that.

It also keeps you updated with any changes to the medications and side effects that might arise.

When you download this app on your Android or iPhone, you get real-time news and updates on all your medications. You can also report any side effects of medicines to the Food and Drug Administration.

The best part?

You can download it on your device for free.

2. ShopWell

Grocery shopping for seniors can be hectic.

In fact, if you have an existing medical condition or you have certain allergies, you need to be cautious when buying your food.

Fortunately, with ShopWell you can make better food choices.

This app helps you find foods that are suitable for your existing condition. You just need to set up a food profile and the app will generate a shopping list for you.

ShopWell can be downloaded for free on iOS and Android devices.

3. My Fitness Pal

Knowing what to eat is one thing and knowing what you’re required to eat according to science is another.

If you’re looking to lose weight then perhaps you’re keen on what gets inside your mouth.

There is no better way to set realistic health goals than to use My Fitness Pal.

The app has a huge food database containing 6 million-plus.

With this app, you get access to different nutrition labels of all your food so you can keep track of the amounts of carbohydrates, fat, calories, and protein you consume.

4. Magnifying Glass with Light

Magnifying Glass with Light or Flashlight is available on iOS and Android and this app is a gem for seniors who have challenges reading small text. With this app on your mobile handset, you can read small fonts whether on restaurant menus or prescription bottles.

To use the app, you just need to position your phone’s camera above the text then move the screen slider to enlarge the text so you can read without straining your eyes.

5. WebMD

WebMD is an app developed by industry experts of the popular WebMD website that shares mountains of health and medical information.

The app doesn’t only provide you with a wealth of health information though.

It also contains a ton of support tools to help you learn more about your overall health so you can make useful health decisions.

Currently, the WebMD app is available on iOS and Android devices and has a ton of useful features such as:

Health target: This feature lets you connect wearable devices so you can monitor your daily progress health-wise.

Symptom checker: This feature lets you know possible health conditions with any part of your body.

First aid information: In case of emergency issues, this feature shares management tips to help you solve the issue by yourself. It also lets you know when you should call 911.

Conditions: This feature provides you with useful information about different medical conditions together with the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, medical terms, treatment procedures, etc.

Other Useful Apps for Seniors

1. Kindle

There is the Kindle, the electronic device you might have come across or even used then there is a mobile app for Android and iPad users that can help you gain access to e-books from the comfort of your coaches.

With this mobile app, you can read browse millions of digital books anytime, anywhere, whether you’re traveling, or in your bed.

The good thing about this app is that it’s developed with seniors in mind.

The app allows you to enlarge the text, increase or decrease the brightness of the screen, etc. It also has an in-built text-to-speech feature and dictionary, etc.

When reading in the dark, the app changes the background to black and the text white so you can read without straining your eyes.

2. Find My Car

The last thing you want to see is parking your car to buy some goods in a supermarket only to come out when you’re done shopping not remembering where you parked it.

For the younger generation, it’s easy to remember where you parked your car but for seniors, it can be challenging.

Fortunately, with Find My Car, you can locate the parking position of your car by use of GPS technology.

3. Mint

For seniors, keeping an eye on your monthly bills is a good thing. With Mint, you can organize all your bank accounts and credit cards in one simple organized place so you can know how much you’re spending on what items.

Mint also helps you to avoid unnecessary expenditure.

This app is available for free on Android and iOS devices.

4. Medisafe

Medisafe is yet another medication reminder app for seniors. If you or your senior loved ones have medications to take, you don’t want to skip any day or moment that you’re required to take pills.

With Medisafe, you’re constantly reminded when to take medications.

This app also shares useful information on certain medicines.

The app also lets you keep an eye on your prescriptions.

5. Facebook

Facebook is the largest social media platform with millions of users worldwide. Seniors aged between 50 and 64 make 68% of US adults using Facebook.

If you’re using Facebook on your desktop computers, you must admit that the social media platform has made the world a small playground.

Currently, seniors can keep in touch with their loved ones anywhere at any time.

Things have also been made easier for seniors by the development of the Facebook app that’s downloadable for free for Android and iOS users.

Today, seniors can stay updated on what’s happening around the world by just tapping the Facebook mobile app on their smartphones.

The app has everything there is in the desktop version of Facebook.

Seniors can engage with friends and family, send and receive instant messages, etc.

6. Pillboxie

As you start to grow older, your bodily processes start to slow down. Your brainpower also starts to decline. And no matter how sharp you’re, if you have to take certain medicines, it’s easier to forget some especially if you have to take many of them.

That’s where Pillboxie becomes useful.

This app lets seniors set reminders to know when it’s time to take their medication.

The app is simple to use.

You just need to enter all your medication, color-code them then set timed alerts.

When the time for taking the pills comes, the app will ring an alarm.

The good thing about this mobile app for seniors is that it comes with an intuitive interface hence it’s easy to use.

7. Skype

When it comes to keeping in touch with family members and friends, the cost of making distance calls can add up fast for seniors who want to communicate frequently.

Thankfully, with Skype, you can stay connected all time with a simple click of a button.

Skype lets you use their voice and video call functionality without breaking your brank.

8. Lyft and Uber

When Lyft and Uber made their debut, they were popular with the younger generation.

However, the apps are now useful for seniors as well.

With these apps, seniors can call a cab from the comfort of their home and go to your destination.

You can download the apps for free on iOS and Android devices.

Over to You

So there you have it- several mobile apps for seniors to make life easier. Remember that the list is not comprehensive. There are tens of thousands of handy mobile apps for seniors out there but we picked the best ones.

You also don’t need them all. Just download a few of these apps try them on your smartphone then come share your experience with us in the comment section.

If you didn’t find a suitable app for yourself in this list, let us know that in the comment section so we can add it.

 

Author Bio
Emma Coffinet is a technology expert who has an interest in making life easier for seniors. She also offers the best essay writing services to students in the subjects of psychology, health, and many others. If you’re looking for argumentative essay help then Emma is the right person to get in touch with.

 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Senior man using smart phone at home
Tech Support

Impact of Smart Technology on Insurers

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

With technological advancements have come the introduction of smart technology. This technology has crept into different industries and has started to impact individuals and insurers’ daily lives. This has led to increased security for insurers. There’s an improvement in health care quality, and this has allowed the insured people to make smarter decisions that are in line with their insurance policies.

Smart Devices for Insurers

Many smart devices can now play essential roles in helping the insured persons secure an excellent premium rate and secure their lives. Some of these devices are discussed below:

Thermostats: In talking about homeowners’ insurance, it is impossible not to pay credence to the data recorder as it plays a massive role in making your life easy. This device can record the humidity and temperature levels inside the house. It can also detect the speed of the wind and mechanical vibrations that can affect the whole house. All of this information can affect the premiums in insurance policies.

Workout Equipment: People who decide to live healthy lifestyles may be able to get discounts and incentives in their insurance policies. It is no longer necessary that the policyholders fill up different forms to prove their regular exercise or health-conscious habits. Several modern apps such as Fitbit and Fitocracy can easily prove that individuals are doing their regular exercises, losing weight, sleeping well, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Carpets: Smart carpets are created to be able to identify falls. They are designed mainly for senior citizens and the older people that are likely to be homebound. This will make their medical response time faster and will likely save them a lot of money that they should have spent on medical expenditures. This carpet can also help those people with the homeowner’s insurance to save some money. You can set up this smart carpet before you embark on your vacation. This will offer you some extra security. In the case of an unexpected intruder coming into your house, it will help alert the police.

Smart Fridge App: With this app, there’s a possibility that the insured gets health discounts from health insurance companies by simply using the fridge to store healthy food. This app can identify the food quality and give you warning signs to prevent spoilage of the fridge’s content.

Water Pumps: As the uncertainty about the climate and climatic changes continue to surge, crop insurance may come with very high risks. Provided that the irrigators use devices that can monitor water usage and set the alarm for cases of high or low water usage rates, it will be very easy to obtain information on the productivity of crops.

What Impacts Do These Smart Technology Have?

The effective use of these smart technologies will surely have significant impacts on the insurance industry. Some of the effects of this technology on insurers are:

Increase in interaction: Before these smart technologies came to the fore, it was common for policyholders to have very few interactions with the companies insuring them. However, with the emergence of real-time data streaming, the insurers can now access a wide range of information about the policyholder, which was hard to come by previously. So, rather than maintaining the casual payment or claim relationship, there will be more interaction between insurers and policyholders, and the relationship will improve.

Autonomous transportation: With smart technology taking over, it’s only a matter of before we start to see sophisticated transport systems such as trains, marine vessels, and driverless cars within the transport insurance industry. As the transportation infrastructure undergoes this massive change, it is expected that there will also be changes in many transport insurance terms.

Changes in the risk landscape: one of the significant benefits of technology is that it helps make informed decisions that are likely to yield success by cutting down on the risk. As technology continues to take up the role of reducing risks, we expect that this will change the whole landscape of risks. We will soon start having situations in which artificial intelligence and software applications begin to control some of the factors within the terms and conditions of many insurance policies.

The business world will be less monolithic: The modern world we live in is an interconnected world. One of the primary reasons for this, if not the most significant reason, is technology. The development of technology means that we now see insurance companies working across different industries and sectors such as agriculture, construction, medical, energy, etc. This ecosystem is something that the insurers will be a part of as they form partnerships across different types of firms. This will also help insurance companies do better as they develop good relationships with their clients across various industries.

Actuarial science with behavioral science: Actuarial science will have to work in hand with behavioral science to calculate probabilities. It no longer suffices to use one of these sciences at the expense of the other. The combination of both will increase the capacity to monitor and measure insurance products with ease.

Security of information: The insurance industry has seen a rise in data exchange rates and storage in recent times. This has made the security of data a top priority for insurance companies. Like many other companies in other industries, they need to put up vigilant services to ensure this extensive data security.

Conclusion

The evolution and advancement of technology have led to the introduction of smart technology that has brought about massive changes and improvements in the insurance industry. It is a lot easier to obtain information now than it was in the past, making it easier and faster to make better-informed business decisions. These smart technologies are also creating a connection between the insurance industry and the other industries. This has led to an improvement in the strength of the relationship between the insurance companies and the insured.

Author’s Bio:
Charlie Svensson is a fast, engaging freelance writer for custom essay papers. He is skilled in content writing, essay help, and blogging. The favorite topics of his posts are education, social media, marketing, SEO, motivation blogging, and self-growth. Excellent adaptability of skills to reach diverse audiences.

 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Great news !
Tech Support

Starting a Blog After 50: Move Over Millennials

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

When many people think of blogging, they might imagine a teenager or—at the oldest end—a thirty-something writing indulgently about personal interests or drama in their daily lives. While these groups of people do make up many bloggers, blogging after age 50 can provide a ton of benefits for older people, too.

Starting a blog after age 50 is easier than ever, thanks to free, intuitive tools that can make launching a blog easy, no matter what your interests are. Blogging for older people not only promotes good mental health by acting as a stress-coping mechanism and sharpening cognitive ability, but it also helps keep older people in touch with technological advances and having fun!

It might seem intimidating to an older person to start a blog if they have never done it before, but there has never been a better time to get a blog launched, either as a hobby or as a passive stream of income. Read on to learn more about starting a blog after 50 and how it can benefit you.

Tools for Starting a Blog

The tools for starting a blog are easy to get together. All you really need is a smart device (such as a laptop, desktop, or smartphone) with word processing software and access to the Internet, and you’re all set.

Here are a few tools that you might find useful for starting and running a blog:

  • Snipping tools: Snipping tools and applications allow you to clip, save, store, and categorize all kinds of things from the Internet easily, from photographs to news clippings. You can then turn around and archive this media on your blog. It’s a good idea to keep several folders full of this type of media related to your blog’s theme so that you always have plenty of visual interest you can add to break up long paragraphs or pages of text on your blog.
  • Writing books: Some basic books on writing can help you get a refresher course on your grammar skills and give you inspiration for writing when you’re not motivated. Writing books can also teach you techniques for drawing in new readers and keeping them interested in what you have to say.
  • A digital camera: If you want to take stellar photographs to help add visual appeal to your blog, a real digital camera can often take photographs with higher resolution than the photographs you can take with a smartphone.
  • Blog writing software: Websites like Wix and WordPress offer free places for people to build blogs along with a huge number of free tools to help them customize their blog spaces. There are also more advanced design options available for small subscription services. For a small hobby blog that you’re writing for fun, the basic free versions of these platforms are usually more than enough to get started.

How to Start A Blog

The first thing to do when you decide to start a blog is decide your reasons for writing a blog in the first place. Do you want a digital scrapbook to keep journal passages and personal photographs as mementos? Or do you want to write about something in particular that you’re passionate about, such as tropical aquariums, vintage cars, or baking recipes?

If you’re wanting to maximize the exposure for your blog rather than keeping a blog as a personal record, you’ll likely want to narrow your blog down to a specific “vibe” or aesthetic and narrow down the focus of your blog to a certain niche topic. For example, instead of writing just a general baking blog, you might write a blog where you bake a different type of bread every week for a year, or you might feature recipes for vegan cupcakes.

The narrower your focus, the more likely you are to find an audience with your blog. However, if you are only building up a blog for personal use, it doesn’t matter if you use it as a catchall for your interests or not. So, determining your blog’s goal is the first thing you need to do before you start typing out your first post.

Here are some other tips for starting a blog:

  • Collect media related to your blog: If you’re writing a personal blog, why not start by making lists of all the media you like (TV, movies, video games, music), your interests, and anything else that you like? Once you have a good list going, you’ll probably start to see some trends. For example, if you like watching movies, movie reviews would probably be a good addition to your blog.
  • Try working out a posting schedule: It is very easy to fall out of the habit of posting to your blog if you’ve never started one before and aren’t receiving very much interaction with it at first. This can be combatted by committing yourself to posting at least once a week. Choose a day of the week that is the least hectic for you (like an easy Sunday evening) and plan to post at that time each week to build your blog up.
  • Try brainstorming blog topics and keeping a list. Keeping a list of topics to write about for your blog can help you break your writer’s block if you get stumped and find that you don’t have anything else to write about. Brainstorming blog topics is a good activity to roll into checking out other blogs in your niche, too, since you can see what has been written about already (and what hasn’t). This increases your chances of earning visibility in search engine results.
  • Try writing a few blog articles ahead. Some days it is easy to write, and the words flow; other days, it’s harder to find the time and inspiration to write. A good way to set up some insurance for yourself so that you can maintain a steady flow of updates for your blog is to write a few extra blog articles ahead of schedule. Keep them set aside for weeks where you’re very busy or don’t feel like writing for whatever reason.
  • Cross-post to social media for more visibility. Especially when you are first getting started, it can be hard to find people to read your blog. Posting links to your blog on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms can help get your post out there and let people know where to find your blog so they can read it.

 

  • Be sure to respond to any comments. If anybody takes the time to interact with your blog, be sure to comment back and interact with them! Speaking directly with your readers is one of the greatest pleasures of starting a blog to begin with. Just be sure to delete any trolling comments or spam bots that come your way. Here are some ways you can deter spam bots from your WordPress blog.

Starting a blog is one of the easiest hobbies to get going, but keeping a blog active and building an audience is a lot harder. Following the above tips can help keep you from losing motivation and encourage you to keep your blog up.

What Is the Point of Starting a Blog?

One of the best things about starting a blog is that YOU get to decide what the point of YOUR blog is!

Here are a few reasons why a person over 50 might start a blog:

  • As a journal: Using a blog as a diary is a great way to express your deepest personal thoughts. Even better, you don’t even have to let anyone else see it! Setting your blog to “private” lets you ramble about anything to your heart’s content without having to worry about criticism. If you want the world to see your diary but don’t want to deal with comments, you can disable those, too.
  • As an income stream: Older people who have spent decades building up a knowledge pool in a niche such as camping, small engines, politics, or some other interest can easily develop a blog that they can eventually monetize and make a passive income stream from. While it can be difficult to make good money off a blog, making money is an excellent incentive to improve your blog if you want to build it around a niche interest anyway.
  • As a hobby record: For example, gardeners can use an online blog to keep track of their sowing dates, to collect snippets of gardening tips or information, and to record any weather conditions or observations from the garden. Hobbyists can use a blog as an archive to help them keep track of important information for their hobby. They can either make these blogs public to share that knowledge or keep it for their use.
  • As a business marketing tool: For older people who either already have their own business or would like to start one, a blog can be a great marketing tool for an online store or as a way for artisans to showcase their crafts for sale.
  • To archive recipes, photographs, or other digital marginalia: Many older people love to collect photographs of loved ones as well as recipes if they’re into cooking, and blogs can serve as a useful repository for all of these texts or photographs. No matter what your special interest is, a blog can be a creative outlet for anything and everything you love, giving you a place that you can return to for enjoyment at the push of a button.
  • To engage with a fandom: Fandoms are usually associated with young people. However, there are huge digital forums for fanfiction, fan art, and other community activities revolving around favorite movies, video games, television shows, and other media can be a great source of entertainment and joy for older people as well.

No matter why you want to start a blog, there are almost limitless ways to use one to increase your daily happiness. It also provides a great platform for self-expression, no matter what your interests are or how you choose to engage with them.

Is It Worth Starting a Blog in 2020?

Some potential bloggers may be discouraged because there seems to be an endless number of bloggers writing about every topic you can imagine. This leaves many to wonder if it is worth starting a blog in 2020. The answer to that question depends on what you want to get out of the blog. If you just want to start a blog for fun, then there is no time like the present to get started.

Here are some of the reasons it’s worth starting a blog in 2020:

  • Most of the tools used in creating and launching blog spaces (such as Wix or WordPress) are completely free and come with intuitive preset templates and other tools that make getting started a breeze even with minimal website design experience.
  • There’s no barrier to entry. No matter how inexperienced you are, you can start and launch a blog for no money and no prior writing knowledge. In fact, blogs can be a great way for beginning writers to start working on their writing skills more seriously.
  • There’s no pressure with writing a blog. Do you feel like posting once a week? That’s fine. Do you feel like posting only once a month? That’s fine, too. Unless you’re actively trying to monetize your blog, it doesn’t matter if you miss a blog update or don’t feel like posting for a while. You can build up your blog at your own pace. It’s a great low-pressure hobby.
  • If you work at it, a blog is a good way to make money. More and more companies act as affiliates to blogs and other niche reading materials online, allowing bloggers to recoup some of the money from their hobbies if they write about them – from RV traveling to flyfishing!

Since it costs nothing and there’s no commitment to keep at it (you can delete a blog at any time, after all, even if it’s only to start a new one), there’s no reason why it isn’t worth starting a blog unless you see it as a get-rich-quick scheme. If that is the case, you’re bound for disappointment.

Challenges of Running a Blog

While there are many advantages associated with running a blog, there are some challenges associated with it as well.

Here are a few issues you might run into when you start a blog for the first time:

  • Exposure to ‘haters:’ Some people on the Internet are mean – very mean. Younger people who are digital natives have had much more experience with online trolls and other digital bullies. And those with less digital experience might be shocked at the cruelty displayed by anonymous online users. Minimize your annoyance with these types of people by moderating your blog comments carefully, blocking abusive users, and deleting their comments. You’re the boss!
  • Blogging can be lonely: If you are a social person, shutting yourself away for hours at a time to write may feel unnatural, at least at first. However, breaking your writing sessions into small bursts and making sure to get plenty of social interaction each day when you’re not writing can help keep those lonely blues away.
  • Don’t expect to get rich: Very few people make steady money with blogging alone, so don’t expect it to pay for your retirement. Instead, the money made from blogging is built up gradually by gaining influence and followers, after which you can start courting advertisers. Before that, you may as well be shouting into a void until you get into the swing of things.
  • It’s hard work to run a blog: Between just coming up with the copy to downloading all of the graphics or photographs and designing the layout of your posts, putting together a blog can feel like building a scrapbook all on your own, with no help, supervision, or motivation from anybody else. It’s especially hard to run a blog if you haven’t ever done it before, as there is a bit of a learning curve when it comes to learning how to set everything up.

Even though there are some drawbacks to starting a blog, it’s still an easy enough thing to experiment with if you’re unsure whether you’ll like building one. Other than an Internet connection and a way to use it, there isn’t much else you need to get your blog started.

Blog Writing Is a Great Hobby at Any Age

People over the age of 50 may see blogging and other digital activities as leisure hobbies for young people, but the truth is that there are many benefits for older people who actively engage in this online activity. Whether you want a place to store your most precious memories or you’d like to become connected with other fans of a topic or hobby you love, blogs can be a wonderful pastime for all ages.

About Suddenly Senior

Suddenly Senior (www.suddenlysenior.com) is a top-ranked site with over 4,000 pages of humor, nostalgia, senior advocacy and useful information for seniors 50+. Updates weekly!

The daily e-zine for everyone over 50 who feels way too young to be old.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts