Seniors getting tech savvy

The world of technology can be intimidating for senior citizens, but these classes are helping every one learn the ropes, one step at a time. Pic: UNSPLASH

By Gabriella Payne

The modern technologies of the twenty-first century can be a little overwhelming to keep up with, especially for some of our senior residents, but the team at the Outlook Community Centre are working to change all that as they help seniors get tech savvy through a range of computer classes.

Having been running for almost 10 years now, the ‘Get Tech Savvy’ workshops have helped many older residents sharpen their digital skills over the years and have kicked off once again at the community centre and will be running each Wednesday morning right through to October.

The Outlook Community Centre manager, Alison Ryan, said that the classes had originally been started to help senior citizens gain more confidence with technology in a relaxed environment and after the last year and a half, the lockdowns had proven just how important these skills are in keeping our community members connected.

“The classes were originally started because there were seniors who weren’t confident enough to go into a more mainstream structured class and had a few questions they wanted to ask that popped up,” Ms Ryan explained.

“For example, one week they might want to know how to do something on their phone, so these classes provided them with that more informal, non-threatening space – and they don’t have to come every week,” she said.

Ms Ryan said that the classes had always proven quite popular, but they had seen the need grow even more in recent months, particularly in the forced Covid lockdowns.

“Especially now after Covid and lockdown, you have to do things online,” she said.

“Some people before weren’t as interested, but now they have no choice.”

Run by a number of volunteers, Ms Ryan said that each week the free classes covered a range of different technological subjects and catered to all students, whether they were beginners, intermediate or perhaps just wanted to ask a simple question.

“When they [the senior students] realise the possibilities, there’s a whole new world out there for them to discover.”

Classes will be running each week on Wednesdays between 9.30am – 12.30pm and students are able to use the centre’s laptops and iPads, or can bring their own devices for any questions they may have, big or small.