If you’re the main provider of senior home care, you know the loneliness and depression that loss of mobility can bring to the elderly. What you may not know is the latest statistics on seniors and the internet: the Pew Research Center reports that Facebook usage among those age 65 and older is the fastest growing demographic on the popular social media site. Between April 2009 and May 2010 senior citizen usage of Facebook grew from 13 percent to 26 percent of total users: a full 100 percent growth rate. While scientists are scrambling to organize studies to measure the benefits of social media on home health care patients, one thing is becoming obvious. Lack of mobility no longer means a life sentence of isolation, waiting for the phone or doorbell to ring. One of the greatest drawbacks to aging is the loss of one’s social network, as spouses, siblings, and friends pass away. Children and grandchildren have less time to visit, and the senior may lack the mobility to socialize outside the home. By conquering the digital divide and overcoming their wariness of new technology those in home health care are no longer restricted by their physical limitations. What does this mean for your senior home care patient? Once they master a few basic skills they can spend their time socializing, sharing their knowledge, keeping up with the kids and grandkids, checking out the latest photos, and maybe planting a crop or two in Farmville if they have some spare time. If you’re elderly parent is leery of computers in general there are a few simple steps you and other family members can take to help them enter the world of social networking. The key is to remove the pressure they may feel about learning something new, and make it a family project to ease them in to having the world at their fingertips.
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