Resources to Help Seniors Learn Tech and Stay Safe Online

AARP reports that 90% of Americans age 50+ use digital technology and social media. In fact, a recent NBC News story suggested that seniors are as “hooked” on their devices as the grandkids. Maybe even more so. But with new tech coming online all the time, artificial intelligence permeating our lives, and the bad guys dreaming up more ways to scam seniors, it pays for all older adults to sharpen their tech know-how.

So, whether you’re pretty savvy already or still getting there, here are some resources to help. Online resources, of course!

Tech Training, User Help, and Online Safety

AARP offers two different types of tech learning for seniors:

• Virtual classes and personalized assistance via their Senior Planet arm
• Digital tutorials you can view any time that explain everything from how to deposit a check online to how to detect scams

Cyber-Seniors links student volunteers with seniors for free tech support and phone-based tech assistance as well as daily webinars.

The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency offers a free course called Cyber Safety Training For Seniors, a helpful article with Online Safety Tips For Older Adults.

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) also provides tech training and resources to help seniors build skills and improve online safety.

For $19.50, you can purchase Senior Tech Connect’s Tech Book, which they created to “help older adults feel more confident using smartphones, apps, passwords, video calls, and online safety tools.”

Artificial Intelligence

Money Talks News warns that seniors cannot afford to ignore AI’s increasing presence all around us – the good and the not-so-good. The full article provides a wealth of information, but just look at the scope of these key takeaways! Happily, there are four benefits and just one risk, though it’s a significant one.

• Catching health issues before you feel them. “AI acts like a super-powered assistant that can spot patterns a human eye can miss,” they note. AI is helping analyze routine EKGs, read mammograms, and MRIs.
• Easing your day and helping you live at home longer. AI-powered devices can handle some household tasks and even learn your daily routines. If it detects something is off, say you aren’t up and around at the usual time, it automatically alerts a designated person. Some of these tools can also detect falls.
• Less frustrating customer service. AI phone assistants used by businesses can increasingly understand conversational English and provide the assistance you need faster.
• Fighting off loneliness. They aren’t real, but AI companions can still converse or play games with you, depending on their programming, and that can be a real boon for seniors who feel isolated.
• Supercharging financial scams. For example, seniors are now even more vulnerable to the well-known grandparent scam because AI can help criminals capture a tiny audio clip from a social media video, then clone it so that the fraudulent phone call features your grandchild’s actual voice, not a fake.

Now is obviously the time to learn as much as you can about AI. AARP’s Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) division has created a free guide, AI for Older Adults, available as a PDF. The publication takes a detailed look at the dangers and benefits of AI as they relate to what OATS considers the three main areas of impact for seniors: health and wellness, finance, and lifestyle. And if you’re interested in how it could do more for you, check out our blog article on how technology is enhancing senior living.

Staying sharp is essential for longevity and quality of life. We hope these resources help you learn more about technology innovations and how to use these tools for fun, connection, and safety.

Connection at Magnolia Manor

Staying sharp is about more than learning new skills. It’s about staying connected to the people and things you love. At Magnolia Manor, connection is at the heart of everyday life across our eight campuses in South Georgia. Residents share meals, make new friends, and enjoy activities together, while families and visitors are always welcome. And when they want to reach out to loved ones near and far, a caring team is there to help. 

If you’re considering senior living for yourself or a loved one, there’s no better way to see what life is really like than to visit in person. Call us at 1-855-540-LIFE (5433) or contact us online to schedule a tour today!