I’ve had feedback about my contact information and the information I put here about various agencies that are often only accessible by computer. I know that many older adults didn’t use a computer at work. Some tried it for fun and it was too difficult to type all those instructions in code. I encourage those older adults who haven’t tried it for a while to get back on the web. It’s not like you never use a computer nowadays. The ATM at the bank is a computer. The gas pump at the filling station, your cell phone, and your satellite receiver are all computers. And the kind that sits on the table and uses a keyboard is now as easy to use as the others on the list. The reason why I want to promote computer literacy is simple. Everything in the world is designed to come to you this way now. I had to call Medicare this week to find out why someone was disenrolled from their Part D insurance. I had to wait for a long time and punch way too many numbers on the phone menu. The computer gets right through. I wanted to contact Paul Petersen, the actor turned advocate. I didn’t think I could figure out who his agent is, send a letter and get an answer. So I e-mailed him. And got a response!
I work with three people who are “old enough” to be on Medicare. All of them use the computer at work and at home every day. They print snapshots from the digital camera. They edit the Christmas letter. They find out if there are enough people left from the class of 1957 to hold a reunion! It is doable. Monrovia Adult School has Beginning Computer Classes for Seniors starting this month. “Patient, gentle instruction, no tests, no homework!”And lastly, you have to use a computer if you ever want to Google yourself.