[June 20, 2013] Technology enhances life, health of seniors, studies say Tweet Jun 20, 2013 (Kerrville Daily Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Living in the information age, it's easy for some seniors to become overwhelmed by the constant influx of breaking news and the latest high tech gadgets. It's tempting to ignore or dismiss information to avoid mental overload. But remaining open to learning new things keeps us flexible and alert and can lead to personal growth, said computer guru Kathie Long, 70. "A lot of these older people are really smart, but their minds have never been engaged in this way," said Long, who has been teaching computer classes at the Dietert Senior Center, 451 Guadalupe St., for four years. "Many people, as they age, don't want change in their life. But they have to embrace change, and the technology that comes with it, because keeping the mind active and learning new things is very important. It's the key to living a long and interesting life." Studies have shown that seniors who use computers report fewer depression symptoms than seniors who don't log on. What's more, according to a 2012 study conducted by the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, computer use, coupled with moderate exercise, may protect against memory loss late in life. It's a win-win. Long teaches two six-hour courses at the center: Basic I is geared for beginners and covers such things as how to navigate with a mouse and keyboard, basic file management and beginning Internet use. Basic II offers instruction on how to become more comfortable with surfing the Internet and using email. Classes meet for two hours a day, three days a week. Long said a common complaint among seniors she meets is they don't get photos of their children or grandchildren and rarely hear from them. "I have to explain that it's no longer an age where people get out a sheet of paper, use a pen to write a note, put the letter in an envelope, stamp it and mail it." Kerrville resident Art Mundt, 69, and his wife Diane, 69, merged on to the information superhighway as soon as the road opened. "We had to," Art Mundt said. "Diane and I both had to use a computer in the business world, beginning in the early '80s. If you didn't learn, you didn't survive in the business world." Once they were on the digital pathway, they stayed the course. "We have smartphones -- we got those to keep up with the kids and grandkids -- and we text and use Facebook, at times. I'd say we do 80 percent of our communication with family about simple things by texting. We've found that to be a very effective way to interface." The couple's daughter, Laurie Nichter, 41, and grandson, Joshua, 7, live in California. With the time difference/busy schedules combo, he said, "it's just easier to text. Getting Laurie to answer the phone is difficult, but if we send a text, we hear from her almost immediately. If there's something we need to discuss on the phone, we send her a text and ask her to give us a call." The couple's oldest son, Jeff Mundt, his wife, Paula, and two granddaughters, Amanda, 11, and Ashley, 9, live in Dallas. They may be in the same time zone, but texting and video chat helps bridge the generation gap. "The grandkids don't have their own phones, but they have iPods, so we communicate with them using Tango, which is similar to Skype (a video messaging service)." "We're lucky, because we have a tech-savvy son, Kevin, 31, who runs a computer business, Kerr County Computer, so we have an expert in the house," Mundt said. "Anytime we have a problem, all we have to do is run down the hallway. We wouldn't have been quite so progressive had it not been for him." Mundt's nephew, Brian, is in the U.S. Army, serving in Afghanistan, and it's technology that keeps the family connected. "My brother, Arnold, and his wife, Robin, keep in contact with Brian by Skyping and texting." Mark Scott, co-owner of Certified Computer Service, said the benefits of using a computer far outweigh the angst that comes with trying to learn how to use one. Scott encourages people of all ages to get online and surf -- there's a wealth of knowledge just waiting to be tip-tapped. "We live in the information age, where the Internet has replaced encyclopedias, and if you want to know something, all you have to do is ask," said Scott, 58, who has been working with computers for more than 30 years and teaches several computer classes at Dietert/Club Ed. "Searching for information is easy: Just ask a question, write it down, if that helps, and use the important words in your question to form your question." Long said her goal as an instructor is to show seniors that putting a little time in front of a computer can pay off in big ways. "These are intelligent people, but the entire concept of the computer is foreign, so I show them things that will interest them, like how to watch a video of one of their favorite TV shows -- like "The Carol Burnett Show" or a Tom Selleck movie -- watch a YouTube video, read the news on the Internet, play solitaire, look up a recipe or read stories about hunting and fishing. I show them Google Earth and have them look up their address. They tend to get excited when they can actually see their house and look up and down the street." Long said, "My hope is that I spark enough interest that makes them go home and try these things on their own. Just getting them to send an email is wonderful and gratifying. The more fun they have, the more they will use it on their own." Mundt said he encourages all seniors to give it a try. "What's the worst that can happen? If you don't at least try, you risk becoming isolated. Technology is wonderful. You can communicate with people, bank online, purchase things online that you can't find in stores and have it shipped directly to your home." "I think back to when the telephone was invented," Mundt said. "If you didn't get a telephone, eventually, you were out of the loop because Western Union, in large part, went away. People didn't send telegrams; they made phone calls. It's the same with the computer and all the new technology. I can't imagine living without these tools now." ___ (c)2013 the Kerrville Daily Times (Kerrville, Texas) Visit the Kerrville Daily Times (Kerrville, Texas) at www.dailytimes.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]