Technology & Older Adults

OUR LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP

By Estelle Rodis-Brown

It’s complicated.

When older adults talk about their relationship with technology, they enjoy its benefits yet complain about the frustrations it causes.

Older adults born into an analog world still prefer handson, face-to-face, mechanical interactions. Regardless, they’ve adapted to digital ways of doing business and managing everyday interactions, from online banking to entertainment streaming, telemedicine appointments and Zoom calls.

But sometimes, the pace of change in the digital world is overwhelming, and older adults are frustrated that freshly-acquired digital skills quickly become useless due to constant updates on digital platforms.

This is what the Northeast Ohio Boomer magazine team heard from people aged 63-87 who attended the free Geauga Senior Technology Expo recently at the West Geauga Senior Center in Chesterland, co-sponsored by University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center, Ohman Family Living, and Geauga Department on Aging. The event provided tech information, speakers and hands-on help to community members.

Northeast Ohio Boomer magazine surveyed participants to gauge how adults 50 and older use technology. We found mixed results. On the positive side, most agreed with Mary Ann Sheranko, 85, of Chardon, who says technology has allowed for “communication with old friends and more opportunities to know what’s going on in the world.” And yet, “constant changes and the need to purchase new equipment” were top frustrations among most attendees.

While they are determined to stay engaged, the process can be overwhelming for older adults. Amy Katz, 63, of Newbury, said, “I want to be able to hook up electronics and get it running without calling my son.”

Some attendees felt lost in the digital world. One woman confessed, “I had to call my sister to see if my phone is a smartphone or not. She said, ‘Your phone is smart; not sure about its user!’’’

The most-used digital devices among attendees were smartphones (100%), followed by tablets, desktop computers, then smart TVs.

The most popular tech applications were email, texting, then phone calls. (Social media, games and news were identified as the most-used secondary digital pastimes. Respondents’ top three wishes were to use their smartTV, smartphone and computer more easily.

As it turns out, our Geauga neighbors are representative of older adults throughout the nation. According to Consumer Affairs (which interviewed over 1,000 people over age 45 about their ability to adapt to and use new technology), 91% of Gen Xers and Baby Boomers feel overwhelmed by technology. Over one-third of them are overwhelmed by technology every day (38%) while another 26% feel it at least a few times a week.

Computers, social media and smartphones cause the most frustration and confusion. Since computers double their capabilities every two years, this leads to numerous changes for users to adapt to and is probably why computers were named the most overwhelming form of technology, with Instagram and Facebook close behind.

There is a silver lining. When necessary (as during the COVID pandemic), older Americans eventually used tech to get things done, from paying bills to ordering groceries online.

Both Gen X and Baby Boomers have also learned to entertain themselves online through video and music content, especially by watching Netflix (62%) and enjoying music on YouTube (38%).

While it’s clear that tech advances can create challenges, older adults ultimately demonstrate resilience, motivation and hope regarding technology and its always-changing upgrades. When it comes to tech, many are finding, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.”