Think technology has yet to find its way into Arizona senior living communities? Think again. From smart phones to Facebook, from YouTube to Twitter, gadgets and technology aren’t just for kids and young adults anymore.
In fact, according to a recent Nielsen survey, people over the age of 55 are the fastest growing group joining Facebook. And according to Kantar Media’s TGI MobiLens survey, adults age 50 and older are actually more likely to use their smart phones to access a social network than those under the age of 30.
With every passing day, technology continues to push the boundaries when it comes to age. In fact, there is a 96-year old woman, right here in Peoria, who uses her smart phone to text with her family regularly, proving that technology and Arizona senior living truly do mix. Far from being kept separate, technology has quickly become an increasingly popular way for members of different generations to catch up and keep in touch.
Here’s another perspective: often the very things that younger generations are looking up on smart phones and computers alike are tasks and skills that senior citizens know how to do already, such as iron a shirt, bake a pie, build a birdhouse or even knit a sweater.
But even though social media and technology are fantastic tools, we shouldn’t forget about the merits of reaching out to someone in person. The next time you find yourself about to send a text or post a message on Facebook, why not pick up the phone and take time to arrange a personal visit, instead? And even though writing a letter or sending a postcard won’t get to your destination in milliseconds, you can be sure that it will always mean more and have a longer-lasting impact on the recipient.
Isn’t the original form of social networking a family dinner, a day at the park or an evening together with your husband or wife? And in the end, texting, Twitter, and technology aside, there’s simply no better feeling than baking a pie with your grandkids.
