Seniors who grew up handwriting letters and taking photos on Kodak film can be intimidated when confronted with using a computer or smartphone. The idea of instantly sending an email to someone or taking a selfie with a cellphone can be daunting to old-schoolers.
Oldsters around Kitsap County are going to class to learn the basics of using a computer and smartphone – allowing them to keep in touch with family and friends, get helpful driving directions and learn more about the world around them. Students typically range in age from 65-85, with some in their 90s.
“These classes are superb,” said Joan Walz, a senior who lives in Poulsbo and attends computer classes in Kingston. “It’s so useful for someone like myself, who lives alone out in the country. It’s not like when you’re sitting in an office where you can turn to the person next to you and say, ‘Hey, how do you do this?’ When you live alone, like many of us senior citizens do, it’s hard trying to figure things out about technology that didn’t exist when we were in the office.”
Walz attends the class once week. “I’m so grateful for them. It’s so complicated to try to figure out issues online. I would just give up. When I take my questions to the class, the teacher clears it up and gets me on target with what I need to do. He explains things so thoroughly and carefully,” she said.
In a recent class, Walz sought help in transferring everything from her iPhone 7 to her “new” iPhone 10. Questions she has raised in classes include: how to use Word, how to set up a Facebook account and what can be done to stop the computer from trying to finish a word you are typing.
After attending several classes, Walz, a former mental health specialist, says she is much more comfortable sitting in front of the computer. She now knows how to use the device’s camera to do video calls. “I can even watch my grandson’s soccer game! I’m much more connected now to family and friends,” she said.
Toni Fahey, of Poulsbo, is taking classes to learn the ins and outs of her smartphone. “The biggest thing is, I’ve gotten some confidence on how to use the phone that I didn’t have before,” she said.
Fahey worked as a legal assistant before such phones were commonplace.
“I can now go to Google and ask questions which I didn’t know how to do before. I can also check what the weather report is going to be,” she boasts. She also learned how to listen to voicemail messages and to use the phone’s flashlight.
Fahey also was introduced to Google Maps. “I did it when I had to find out where a doctor’s appointment was in Silverdale. I Google-mapped the address, and it showed me how I can get from my apartment right to the doctor’s office. It was wonderful,” she said.
Fahey enjoys learning the photo capabilities of her portable phone.
“I grew up with photo albums and taking the photos to Fotomats to be developed. Today, everybody seems to be taking pictures on their cellphones. Now, family members send me pictures of themselves that I would have totally missed out on,” she said.
Fahey appreciates learning about her phone, but has limits on how much knowledge she wants to acquire about the device.
“I’m reluctant (to learn more) because I don’t really want to do more. I have a life, besides my cellphone. I don’t want to carry it around every place I go. I know a lot of people do, but that’s not my life,” she said.
Kitsap Tech Support puts on the classes that the women attend. Courses are held around Kitsap County, most are free and open to the public.
Jacob Maxwell, 31-year-old owner of Kitsap Tech Support, says a variety of reasons bring seniors to classes.
“Some (students) are individuals whose ‘significant other’ handled all the technology things, but that person passed away. Now, it’s on them to handle it all when they have never touched a computer before. Now, they have to pay their bills and check their e-mails. Others just want to be a little more secure with their online accounts. They don’t know online account security. They can check email but don’t know how to verify who is sending them what,” he said.
Goals of the classes extend beyond teaching how to send emails and do FaceTime, Maxwell said. Getting folks out of the house to socialize, meet new friends and have fun are other objectives of the sessions.
Kitsap Tech Support conducts classes around the county. Bremerton Housing Authority contracts with the company to do classes at Summit Apartments, 4650 Bay Vista Blvd., in West Bremerton and Charter House Apartments, 1307 Wheaton Way, in East Bremerton. In Poulsbo, residents of Hostmark Apartments can attend classes in their building. In Kingston, tech classes are held at the Village Green Community Center and are open to the public for a cost of $10 a class.
For additional details on classes, contact Kitsap Tech Support at 360-328-1337.
Other local technology classes for seniors are put on by Kitsap Computing Seniors (385-288-1359; email: kitsapcomputingseniors@gmail.com). Free technology online webinars and classes are also available through AARP’s Senior Planet, a service which goes by the motto: “Aging with Attitude.” The Senior Planet hotline is: 888-713-3495.
