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I had the pleasure of knowing my great-grandfather (pop) for 15 years. I loved visiting with him in Mays Landing, NJ and hearing all of his stories. However, there was a point in my life when seeing him on holidays and special events wasn’t enough.

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I wanted to share with my pop important things that happened to me like scoring in a hockey game. I remember asking my mom if I could send my pop a text message and didn’t understand why he didn’t have a cell phone or social media.

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My pop was a very interesting man who served in World War II and lived through the Great Depression. Despite witnessing so many medical and technological advancements throughout his life, he just felt like he was too old to learn how to navigate this new digital age. We spoke on the phone but that became difficult in the last few years of his life due to speech and hearing issues.

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We lost my pop in 2019 shortly before his 94th Birthday. I was devastated by his loss and became determined to teach the older people in my family how to use modern technology so that we could always stay connected.

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Only 61% of people over the age of 65 have smartphones and only 49% of people over the age of 70 have them. It blows my mind that one half of the older generation is missing out on so much by not accessing the digital world through a smartphone.

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My grandfather (poppy) was my first student. My family brought him an iPhone which I showed him how to use including the downloading of apps and sending text messages.

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how to show an older person how to use a smartphone - Bing video

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Here is a helpful video on ways to help seniors how to use a smartphone

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how to show an older person how to use a smartphone - Bing video

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Some important tips for showing someone how to use a smartphone are: 1. Be patient 2. Demonstrate to them how to use it instead of just telling them 3. Break the demonstration into small steps and 4. Let them repeat the steps until they feel comfortable 

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Some important tips for showing someone how to use a smartphone are: 1. Be patient 2. Demonstrate to them how to use it instead of just telling them 3. Break the demonstration into small steps and 4. Let them repeat the steps until they feel comfortable 

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My poppy took to the smartphone like a fish to water. He is now a pro at sending text messages. In fact, he finds the funniest memes to use when responding in group text messages. He even managed to creat a bitmoji that eerily looks like his twin.

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My poppy is now 80 years old and lives alone since the death of my mom-mom. My mom and her siblings have a group chat with my poppy wherein they send several texts per day. It is not only a good way to keep in touch but it is a good way to check up on my poppy without him knowing that they are checking up on him. They are not as slick as they think because he often sends them memes simply staying “I’m alive”.

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My poppy is a sports junkie. He used to tell me about trades the day after they happened because that is when he read about them in the newspaper. He now has access to the internet and the ESPN app where he gains all of his sports knowledge and scores in real time. In his words, this is a “game changer”.

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My poppy has always been my biggest fan and never missed one of my ice hockey games until the Covid-19 pandemic hit. I was able to play hockey games during the pandemic but we were not allowed to have spectators. I was shocked when my poppy called me after a game and knew that I scored a goal. He researched all of the ice rinks that I played in on the internet and found out which ones use a site called Live Barn  which broadcasts the games. My own parents did not even go to those lengths to watch me play during the pandemic.

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My poppy also loves to watch my cousin play baseball but some of his high school games were too far for my poppy to attend. He found an app called Gamechanger which gives him the play by play of the game in real time.

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The use of modern technology had a huge impact on my poppy’s life. He has nine grandchildren and five of us are currently living at various colleges. We are able to stay connected with him by texting, FaceTime and sending him pictures on a daily basis.

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Driving can be difficult for the older generation due to inclement weather and eyesight and ambulatory issues. It can also be dangerous as it is estimated that 20 older adults are killed each day in automobile accidents. Digital technology can dramatically reduce the need for our older population to drive to the bank, grocery stores and department stores. They can accomplish these chores on their own by using apps and the internet. They can bank and shop online instead of having to rely on friends or family to take them.

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Driving can be difficult for the older generation due to inclement weather and eyesight and ambulatory issues. It can also be dangerous as it is estimated that 20 older adults are killed each day in automobile accidents. Digital technology can dramatically reduce the need for our older population to drive to the bank, grocery stores and department stores. They can accomplish these chores on their own by using apps and the internet. They can bank and shop online instead of having to rely on friends or family to take them.

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Most banks have apps that can be downloaded which will allow you to pay bills, switch money from one account to another and deposit checks. My poppy was sure glad that he learned how to use this app especially when the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

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Most banks have apps that can be downloaded which will allow you to pay bills, switch money from one account to another and deposit checks. My poppy was sure glad that he learned how to use this app especially when the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

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video to show how to use a bank app - Bing video

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Here is a helpful video that shows how to use a bank app

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video to show how to use a bank app - Bing video

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My poppy was the type of guy who went to the grocery store every day. That came to an end during Covid-19. He started shopping online and having his groceries delivered. Once I helped him set up the account, he found that it was super easy to use and he likes the fact that it stores his orders making it easy for him to re-order his favorite items. The less my poppy has to drive, the safer he is.

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10 Tips for Online Grocery Shopping from a Seasoned Online Shopper

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Here is a video that has helpful tips for online grocery shopping.

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10 Tips for Online Grocery Shopping from a Seasoned Online Shopper

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My poppy’s most recent conquest was learning how to use Venmo. He likes to send me and my cousins money from time to time and usually did so by mailing a card with cash in it. When none of us received our Thanksgivings cards, he learned from his mail carrier that there had been a lot of mailbox robberies and that it was not safe to place anything in the mail unless you take it to the post office. I then set up a Venmo account for my poppy and he loves the fact that we receive his “cash” immediately and the fact that he can send a silly emoji along with the payment. My mom was shocked when she learned that the man who refused to use a “mac” card (debit card) until recently now uses a cash app.

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video showing how to use a cash app - Bing video

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Here is a video with some helpful tips on using a cash app

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video showing how to use a cash app - Bing video

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This is my poppy’s Facebook account. His use of social media helped him connect with old high school friends and old neighbors. He has a lot of nieces and nephews that have moved to different cities and states over the years. He loves the fact that Facebook allows him to stay connected with them and their growing families.

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The feeling of loneliness is a sad part of life for our older generation. However, engaging in social media sites, watching live stream events and even funny videos can help stave off this loneliness for our seniors and help them feel connected to the world around them. 

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The feeling of loneliness is a sad part of life for our older generation. However, engaging in social media sites, watching live stream events and even funny videos can help stave off this loneliness for our seniors and help them feel connected to the world around them. 

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My younger brother and cousins are amazed when they hear our poppy reference a song, dance or video that is trending on social media. It is amazing how the age gap between an 80 year old and a 13 year old can be bridged with one silly animal video.

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The Covid-19 pandemic changed life as we know it. Navigating this new life is almost impossible without the use of digital technology. My poppy has health issues and still needed care during the pandemic. He was able to schedule and participate in virtual appointments with the use of his smartphone. Most of his appointments are now back to being in person, however, he still has to schedule many appointments through an app. 

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The Covid-19 pandemic changed life as we know it. Navigating this new life is almost impossible without the use of digital technology. My poppy has health issues and still needed care during the pandemic. He was able to schedule and participate in virtual appointments with the use of his smartphone. Most of his appointments are now back to being in person, however, he still has to schedule many appointments through an app. 

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video showing how to partipate in a virtual.appointment - Bing video

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Here is a video that gives helpful advice on how to participate in a virtual appointment

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video showing how to partipate in a virtual.appointment - Bing video

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There is specialized training for the elderly which can help quell the fear that they might feel by new technology. Taking away the feeling in someone that they are too old for modern technology can help someone restore their confidence and give them a sense of freedom. 

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There is specialized training for the elderly which can help quell the fear that they might feel by new technology. Taking away the feeling in someone that they are too old for modern technology can help someone restore their confidence and give them a sense of freedom. 

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There is a website called teensteachtechnology.org where a senior citizen can sign up for lessons which will teach them the basics of technology. These lessons are given by teenagers at local libraries, community centers and nursing homes.

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There is a website called teensteachtechnology.org where a senior citizen can sign up for lessons which will teach them the basics of technology. These lessons are given by teenagers at local libraries, community centers and nursing homes.

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When a senior citizen learns to use the digital world, they will feel less isolated from society and will gain many benefits. For example, they can go to https://seniorplanet.org/classes/ which is a website where they can sign up for all different kinds of virtual classes like yoga, protecting their finances, strength and training, holistic healing, tech talk, etc. They can engage in these classes from the comfort of home but still enjoy the camaraderie of the others participating in the class.

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When a senior citizen learns to use the digital world, they will feel less isolated from society and will gain many benefits. For example, they can go to https://seniorplanet.org/classes/ which is a website where they can sign up for all different kinds of virtual classes like yoga, protecting their finances, strength and training, holistic healing, tech talk, etc. They can engage in these classes from the comfort of home but still enjoy the camaraderie of the others participating in the class.

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I know that the quality of my poppy’s life drastically improved when he learned to navigate the digital world. However, I can honestly say that I learned so much more from him than he ever learned from me. We need to realize that our older generation bared witness to so much in their lives and have so many lessons to teach us. I remember learning about the Battle of the Bulge in elementary school. However, that lesson did not  compare to my pop’s accounting of the battle which he actually participated in and, unfortunately, had the scars to prove it. In the words of my poppy “this old dog can learn new tricks”. Take the time to show an older person how to use the technology that we take for granted- you wont regret it and you will make a huge difference in both of your lives.