Doreen Dyce is one of many Seniors in our community who uses a computer on a daily basis. She takes her iPad with her everywhere she goes and uses it for everything from her role as Secretary of the 55 Plus Older Women's group to reading books at home. “I was running out of space and the money I would have spent on bookshelves went towards an iPad.” She finds reading so much easier now “because of the light behind it.”

Doreen is part of a growing number of Seniors who have learnt to use computers. A recent study in the USA funded by Village Care of New York, a not-for-profit long term care provider, found computers give older adults “a greater connection with the world around them.” Younger generations were early adopters of the Internet but most of today's growth is being driven by the older age groups starting at 55.

The figures aren't restricted to Baby Boomers as a survey by Media Audit, a syndicated media ratings service, found the 65 to 74 year olds increased as a percentage of Internet audience from 4.6 to 5.4% by the middle of the last decade. If information is power, then Seniors are rapidly embracing everything that the Internet has to offer. A and according to the president of International Demographics, who produced the Media Audit survey, “the 50 plus age group look like they will soon catch up.”

The New York Village Care study found that keeping in touch with family by sending emails and having access to health information “is beneficial to overall mental health”. Doreen is a living example of this as she has a very positive attitude and believes she has led a “lucky” life. Despite being born during the depression when there were “no frills”, Doreen learned shorthand typing at the Macquarie Secretarial School and, graduating during a time when there were limited job opportunities for women and used her work skills to travel the world. Her only regret is that she didn't make it into the Soviet Union as this was closed to the West during the Cold War and the only way in was through a sponsor.

Doreen got her first computer in the late 90's, the then 'Yellow Pages' ran a competition to win a Hewlett Packard computer. You had to phone in. “I think I spent about $20 and won.” She used it for sending emails and staying in touch with her family. Now she has an Apple computer because, “it is not as prone to viruses” and uses it in her role as Secretary for the 55 Plus Older Women's group who meet in the Eastlakes Community Hall. She uses it for everything from recording Minutes to taking it with her recently on a recent bus trip around the Gap to show our driver Raelene, where to go on their “Out and About” cliff top walk using Google Earth around the Gap to Watsons Bay.

Picture: 80-something 'woman of today', Doreen Dyce uses her iPad to identify the driving route for her community group via Google Earth. (Photo: Natalie Churnin)

More Information

55 Plus Network

If you are over 55, healthy and active, and want to remain that way then this could be your program. It aims to promote a healthy life through a range of activities such as walking groups, exercise classes and information sessions. The Out and About group can be contacted on 9667 4280.

Computer Pals

If you are new to computers and would like to know the basics, Computer Pals run classes in everything from how to start a computer to sending email staying connected to the world through email. They run out of the University of NSW campus on Anzac Pde. and Matraville Public School, Cnr Beauchamp Rd/Bunnerong Rd. Contact: Shirley Smithed, on 9349-8074 or 9399 9514.

TADNSW, Technical Aid to the Disabled

Affordable computers and support for people with disabilities receiving Centrelink/Veterans Affairs benefit, 1300 663243.

South East Neighbourhood Centre (SENC)

If you have basic computer skills then come into SENC and use our stand alone computer in the foyer which is hooked up to a printer and is free to use for the first 10 pages per week. Contact SENC.