Older people most often treat gadgets with distrust. You can understand them: the ubiquitous Internet is too unusual for the generation of newspapers, radio and TV. However, gadgets can benefit them. Psychologist Irina Sulima tells how to make old people friends with modern technology and why this should be done.
As a rule, people who are over 70 years old have difficulty mastering the simplest push-button mobile phones and are by no means eager to get acquainted with modern smartphones and tablets. The offer of children and grandchildren to update the equipment is often reacted with a sharp refusal.
At the heart of this resistance is the fear of not being able to cope, anxiety about how they will look in the learning process, and older people do not want to burden their relatives with unnecessary, in their opinion, expenses.
And these expenses, though optional, are very useful. Having mastered the simplest smartphone or tablet, grandparents will have a reason to be proud of themselves not for past achievements, but for what they are doing now.
In addition, modern technology will allow you to communicate with your family more often, broaden your horizons, and maybe even your circle of friends. And, of course, learning is good for the brain, new information always keeps cognitive functions in good shape.
The main rules to follow in order to accustom an elderly relative to modern technologies are slowness, consistency and a turn-based strategy. From the first interest in a smartphone to mastering its simplest functions, sometimes it takes six months or even more.
Step 1. Interest
Read news and interesting articles aloud from your smartphone, show funny pictures, show photo and video messages from relatives. Talk about how it is very convenient for you to use instant messengers, because they allow you to communicate with loved ones more often. Focus on the fact that even half of what is on the Internet will not be shown on TV.
Talk about older people who play online games, chat with loved ones, look for interesting information, that is, they master the Internet in one way or another. Such conversations should not seem intrusive: everything is casual, by the way.
As soon as a relative becomes interested: “What do they write on your Internet? Where do you get these funny pictures from? The grandchildren have already sent a video from the dacha, let me see it!” – you can go to the next step.
Step 2. Promise
First of all, you need to reassure an elderly relative, to convince that buying a smartphone did not require large financial investments: “Mom, I have a phone, I don’t need it, I’ll bring it to you somehow, I’ll show you where those funny pictures come from.”
At this stage, you need to give the elderly person time to get used to the idea of the appearance of a gadget in his life. In no case should you rush, the smartphone should be an expected event. The next step is best done after the relative himself reminds you of the promise to bring the gadget.
Step 3. Acquaintance
On the day when you bring the promised phone, do not rush to immediately start learning. Say you’ll show it a little later. Thus, the elderly person will have time to mentally prepare for acquaintance with technology.
First, tell about the simplest functions of a smartphone: a call, a list of contacts, one simple messenger for calls and messages. Show how the camera works. Explain calmly, slowly, if necessary, repeat what has been said. Remember that in old age, cognitive functions may decline and this is normal. Treat difficulties with humor.
Be sure to write clear instructions with a relative: how the touch screen turns on, what you need to press to call, write or take a picture. Praise the “student” for being smart and pause. At least for a week.
Be prepared for a flurry of additional questions and even an expression of displeasure in the next few days – the push-button phone was more familiar. Answer calmly, without irritation. A smartphone should not be associated with quarrels.
Step 4 Continue
Some time after the first meeting, you can talk about the more complex functions of a smartphone or tablet: show how to use search engines, how to attach photos and videos to Whatsapp or Telegram, maybe even demonstrate social networks.
In any case, everything must be done gradually and slowly, at a pace that is comfortable for an elderly relative. Over time, he will awaken his own research interest, the main thing is to relieve anxiety, explain that it is quite difficult to break a smartphone, and maintain interest in using the gadget.
About expert
Irina Sulima — psychologist of the federal network of private pensions for the elderly of the Social Systems Management Company, family psychologist-consultant, specialist in the field of social technologies in lifelong learning for adults.