With all the talk about the Internet and Facebook and Twitter, you’d think everyone was using technology to the max…and loving it.  Well, if you are a baby boomer or senior using technology but not so comfortable with it, you are not alone. 

A new survey from AARP about how people 50+ use social media and technology found that: 

*  Just 40% of adults age 50 feel comfortable using the Internet.

*  Most prefer getting their news from print newspapers and magazines (40%) or through a combination on print and online (26%0.

* About a quarter use social media websites (27%) with Facebook being the most popular.

* Among those who use social media – it’s all about connecting with family. 

So if you are in the “I’d like to get more comfortable with the Internet” camp, what can you do?  Especially if you are looking for a job, where being Internet savvy can be an important ingredient in finding the best positions for your skills.

 Here are some places to try: 

Your local senior center:  Many senior centers (don’t let the name keep you away many have classes open to those 50+) have computer labs and classes for all levels.

 Community colleges:  Check out non-credit programs at your community college.  They generally offer both online and offline courses that can help you build your computer knowledge and skills.

 Senior-net.  There are some SeniorNet centers where you can get hands on assistance, or check out their online classes. 

Friends, neighbors, family – sometimes you just need a helping hand or a quick tip to get you more confident.  It’s best to tap into those who are patient and good teachers – taking the mouse and showing you doesn’t usually help you learn how to navigate and become more comfortable.  In fact, the reason so many baby boomers and seniors use social media is to connect with friends and family.  So why not let them give you a helping hand?

YouTube – There are some great tutorials on YouTube from computer basics to smart searching techniques. 

Exploritas – if you’re looking for technology and travel try this website for classes that can help with some of the more advanced applications like digital photography.

Check with your community center or library for other classes in your area.  You don’t need to sign up for expensive online classes.

Technology promises to change the way we receive health care at home. That’s good news for the majority of us who say that home is where we want to be when the time comes to get a little help with every day life.

Last week the Senate Committee on Aging held hearings on broadband technologies in healthcare, particularly advances that are being made in mobile and wireless devices that can help the chronically ill.  

While some of it sounds like we’ve dropped into the old cartoon show The Jetson’s (bet you can hum the jingle –Here’s George Jetson…), the fact is that many of these technologies are in use or being tested and will soon hit the market. 

It’s call “e-care” which is short for electronic care that facilitates any kind of virtual visit or electronic connectivity outside of a traditional office.  It could mean secure text messaging between doctor and patient to change a medication dose, an audio chat or full video visit.  It could also mean using electronics to remind patients to take their medication, capture a vital sign or view customized information sent to them by their doctor, explain Eric Dishman from Intel.

 Imagine how many hours of sitting in doctor’s office’s could be saved! 

And, how many more people could truly stay at home even if they have a chronic medical condition that would otherwise have sent them to assisted living or a nursing home.  Dishman says 50% of care should be provided in the home by 2020.

What’s coming are things like a pill with a chip in it that can record when we took the medication (a real boost to medication adherence); and at home monitoring of vital stats while you are video conferencing with your doctor, and a censoring system that can detect falls and alert emergency personnel.

Pretty whiz-bang stuff that is moving more quickly into the marketplace than many of us realize.

For those planning for future long-term care needs, no doubt many of these technologies will not be inexpensive.  To keep current with the changes in long-term care, many of the long-term care policies now being sold have provisions for covering these types of new technologies that will help us stay at home.

What do you think about e-care?  Are you ready for it or worried about it?

 More resources about e-care.

Article on how the smart pill works

20 Biotech Breakthroughs from Popular Mechanic 

Committee on Aging testimony

Article from CNSNews.com on Electronic Health Technology

What’s your recipe for a long and healthy life? 

 What inspires and strengthens you? Have a story to share?

The Administration on Aging wants to hear your story — and if your entry wins–share it to inspire others. 

The contest is called Recipe for Strength and it is sponsored by the Administration on Aging.  Share your story via poetry/prose, video or photography.  The contest is being hosted by the Administration on Aging in celebration of Older Americans Month in May. Age Strong!  Live Long!  is the theme for month-long activities.  To find out more and read the rules go to the Administration on Aging website. 

The winner in each category will receive a certificate of recognition and their entry will be publicly announced and prominently displayed on the Administration on Aging’s website.

Entries must be submitted by April 30, 2010, 11:59 p.m. EST.  See the AOA site for full details.

Do you know someone over the age of 60 who is engaged in an encore career?  Encore careers combine personal meaning and social impact with continued work in the second half of life.

Ann Higdon isn’t your average baby boomer.  Inspired by her own difficult childhood, she’s now running a nonprofit that helps disadvantaged teens in Dayton, Ohio, turn their lives around. She’s also one of 10 people to win the 2009 Purpose Prize for changing lives – starting with her own.

The 2010 Purpose Prize is accepting nominations, including self-nominations, at Encore Careers by March 5, 2010.

The eligibility criteria:

• Be at least 60 years old (by the deadline of March 5, 2010).
• Be a legal resident of the U.S. (including U.S. territories).
• Be someone who has initiated important innovations (in a new or ongoing organization) in an encore career.
• Be currently working in a leadership capacity in an organization or institution (public, private, nonprofit, or for-profit) to address a major social problem in the United States or abroad.
• Have initiated important innovations (in a new or ongoing organization), and have demonstrated recent creativity and leadership with the promise of more to come.

Ann’s organization, Improved Solutions for Urban Systems (ISUS), helps high school dropouts get their degrees and build careers.  Her students not only get a high school education, they also learn job skills in health care, computer operation and construction. Many students take their training and use it to improve their community, such as building homes in run-down neighborhoods.

The Purpose Prize is looking for 10 people over age 60 to win up to $100,000 each to support their work solving some of our most pressing social issues – from health care to the environment, poverty to education.

 Find out more about criteria and eligibility at Encore Careers.

Are you on Facebook?  That’s the question more boomers and seniors are asking each other. Increasingly the answer to that question is “yes” with boomers and seniors among the fastest growing group of users.

Facebook, for those unfamiliar with it, is a social networking site lets you connect with friends all over the country – world actually – by sharing comments and pictures.

It’s an increasingly popular way for family members to stay connected.  You can find old friends and work colleagues.  And, you can follow celebrities, your favorite stores, and companies you like.   Some stores will use the site to post special offers and deals.  It can also be a way to get customer service assistance if you are not getting anywhere on the phone.

(See our Longevity Alliance page on Facebook.  Become a friend of Longevity Alliance and get updates on health, wealth and lifestyle information and share your ideas.)

Just as you do with any other website that holds your personal information, make sure you’re smart about what personal information you post and who has access to the information.

Here’s an article that provides tips on how to set your security settings on Facebook.  Even if you’ve been on Facebook you may find some of these tips helpful as the security settings changed recently.  Here’s a link to Facebook’s security site.

I just connected with work colleagues who I hadn’t seen in 20 years – fun to catch up and be reminded of people and events from a different time in your life.  Now it’s easier to stay in touch.  Last wedding I went to there were more boomers taking pictures and posting them to Facebook than 20+ year olds.  Even my dog has a Facebook page–and firends (both two-legged and four-legged).

What’s your experience been with Facebook?

The “Great Recession” is changing our view of home ownership and the types of neighborhood we want to live in retirement, according to new research from the Urban Land Institute (ULI).

 If they are right, it has broad implications for the role of housing in retirement planning.

 Two key predictions from the report, Housing in America, for the decade ahead:

        * Home appreciation will slow considerably, to about 1 percent to 2 percent annually; and,

       * The current U.S. homeownership rate, now at 67 percent (a decline from the record high of 69 percent at the height of the housing boom) will fall further, to about 62 percent.

Hard hit by the dips in home values are the baby boomers.  The report predicts that both younger and older baby boomers will be staying in their suburban homes –waiting for prices to increase – rather than downsizing or moving to retirement communities.  

They also predict that the younger generation (those in their 20s) will rent longer, less anxious to buy a home given what they have seen happen to home prices in the past year.

Here’s what they have to say about the housing preferences of baby boomers:

 *Aging baby boomers (55 to 64 years old) – Although they are nearing retirement age, many will keep working out of necessity or by choice. Some will be forced to stay in their suburban homes until values recover. Those who are able to move will not choose traditional retirement locations or senior housing, opting instead for more mixed-age living environments that cater to their active lifestyles. Suburban town centers with a walkable urban “feel” will appeal to this group.

*Younger baby boomers (46 to 54 years old), now in or entering their prime earning years – This group will also face a tough time selling suburban homes, hampering the ability of these boomers to move. Because the recession has left many younger boomers with flat incomes and less home equity, their ability to purchase second homes will be greatly diminished, curbing prospects in general for the second home market. However, like their older counterparts, they will be drawn to more connected, compactly designed communities when they are able to switch houses.  

Some seniors are already finding the housing market decline to have a disastrous impact on their ability to finance long-term care. The housing appreciation they hoped would pay for long-term care is gone and or they can’t sell their home to free-up money to move into a retirement community, assisted living or nursing home.  If you anticipate selling your home to finance future long-term care needs that may no longer be very realistic.  You might want to consider long-term care insurance that could help pay for care at home (some policies also permit funds to be used to pay for home modifications).  A reverse mortgages (for those 62 and older) are another way to help finance staying in your home as you age.   This article provides some tips on how home value plays into retirement planning.

Has the decline in the housing market changed your retirement housing plans? Do you think the report is right that traditional age-restricted retirement communities are a thing of the past?

As the horror of the magnitude of suffering continues to unfold in Haiti  the call for donations to help continues.  As you consider your donation options, make sure you know where your money is going and that it is being directed to efforts in Haiti.

Unfortunately, online and telephone phishing scams will  proliferate. Here’s an article from SmartMoney with tips on how to give during this crisis.

 The article recommends:

* Stick with established groups.

* Assess the charity’s plans – how will your donation be used; what’s the charity’s history of the amount of a donation that goes toward administration and toward relief.

* Designate your gift – if you want your donation to be used specifically for Haiti relief efforts, say so.

* Write a check rather than use plastic – less of your donation will be eaten up by fees.  If you are texting a donation, the transaction fee may be waived. Find out.

* Watch out for phishing scams – make sure the site you are at is the “official site”.  If you get a call, don’t provide your credit card number.  Your best bet is to ask where you can send a donation by mail or call them directly to make sure you are reaching the official charity.

 The U.S. Better Business Bureau runs this website where you can check whether the group you are thinking of donating to is legitimate.

 A list of groups and links from Google.

The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund

*Franklin cover, 2009 

Does this list of resolutions look familiar?  Similar to changes you said you’d make in 2009 or 2008 or 2000?

So what can you do differently to reach your goals in 2010?

It’s all about commitment.  Over 30% of the people surveyed said “lack of commitment” is the major reason they won’t stick to their resolution.

So, first thing to do is begin to think about goals you want to reach, not resolutions you’ll try to keep.  Then really get committed to reaching your goals.

Personal finance expert Jean Chatzky said, “While the survey’s respondents want to improve financially, the biggest detriment to people saving is their lack of commitment.  Like losing weight or developing any healthy habit, the key to financial success is a regular schedule and plan.”

Here are three tips to help you stick to your goals in 2010:

1.  Write it down.  Thinking about it, imaging it, guesstimating helps build momentum but it probably won’t get you doing what you need to do to change habits.  Whether it is saving more, spending less, losing weight – write down the goal – where you are at now and how you are going to get there.  If you haven’t done a budget or financial plan, or if you’re close to retirement and haven’t done a retirement plan, get started.  There are lots of free resources on the Internet (http://www.choosetosave.org, ballpark estimator plus the site has lots of calculators to help you plan or http://www.mint.com ).

2.  Don’t overload your goals. The enthusiasm of change can rapidly dissipate if you are trying to do too many things at once.  Changing habits is hard work – especially if you are older with more years of experience behind you…so if money is the most important issue on your list, start with that – and pick up other goals a couple months into the new year after you’ve got yourself into a new financial habit.

3. Find a “change buddy.”  Share your success.  Share your pain and frustration.  Find someone who is also trying to change so you don’t feel alone and give up.  Online, offline – whatever works for you.  There are some communities that will launch online challenges and then provide the camaraderie and feedback to keep going. (AARP’s Magazine is starting an online Clutter challenge on Jan. 1)

4.  Be Realistic and optimistic.  Reach for new heights, but don’t set the bar so high you set yourself up to fail.  So if you have a big goal, break it down into manageable bites and celebrate your success along the way! 

Share your resolution success stories.  What’s your goal for 2010?

All of us at Longevity Alliance wish you a happy and properous new year!

When it’s time to hang up the keys, what do you say to an older driver?

If you are an older driver, how do you prepare for the time when being behind the wheel no longer seems the right way to get from place-to-place?

Like many aging issues, including money and long-term care, the discussion about the need to stop driving is not an easy one.  Beyond the practical issues of how you get where you need to go, there are the psychological issues of giving up some of your independence.  And just think of how many times a story begins… when I was driving my (name favorite car); or, we all piled into the (name favorite car) for the trip of our life. 

It’s part of the American love affair with the automobile. and no wonder it is so hard to give up.

During holiday gatherings there is often heightened awareness of this issue as we see, for the first time, some diminished ability of an older loved one to drive safely.  Sometimes, it’s just making slight changes in driving behaviors. Other times it’s finding a way to have the discussion about moving from driver to passengerto avert a serious accident.

The good news is that there are lots of resources available to help you or your loved one make the transition from driver to passenger.  And the more pre-planning you do, the easier the transition can be.

Whether for yourself or an older driver, here are resources that can help you plan for the day when you won’t be driving to helping an older driver make the transition from driver to passenger.

          How to Help an Older Driver AAA Foundation

          Hartford resources:  Family Conversations with Older Drivers and Driving and Dementia

         National Highway Traffic Safety Administration- Older Driver Information and Articles

And here are some tips for making the transition from driver to passenger for those with dementia. 

The Hartford, MIT AgeLab and Boston University

One couple I spoke with recently talked about putting the cash from the sale of their car and the amount they would have paid for auto insurance into a “transportation account.”  They tapped those funds for transportation services and cabs to get where they needed to go, allowing them to retain a sense of independence and less reliance on family and friends.

Others include transportation service as a key part of their requirements for relocating,  knowing that easy access to a bus or van service can keep them mobile.

Do you have a story to share or a tip that’s worked in helping an older driver make the transition?

Key Toppers

Holiday gift giving can be challenging when it comes to figuring out just the right gift to give an older person.

Gifts for grandma or great-grandma, gifts for grandpa or great-grandpa, gifts for a favorite aunt or uncle, or a neighbor you watch over. Finding a unique gift is hard.  

It’s especially hard if the individual has physical limitations or have downsized to smaller living space.  What can you find that promotes their independence, yet can be fun?  

You want something nice, thoughtful and easy to use – not something that seems old and medicinal?  Elegant but simple to use?  Technology made simple? The Internet comes to your rescue.

Here are some websites we’ve come across that can help spark ideas for a special gift this holiday season or a gift for a birthday.  Many of these sites have special discounts for the holiday season.

Gold Violin– this company specializes in products that promote independent living. The site is easy to navigate – by health condition, by room, by activity –and a special gift section.  From stocking stuffers to books to gadgets and nostalgia.  Beautiful pill boxes, covers for keys to help identify what they’re for, talking clocks and lots more.

FirstStreet – you’ve probably seen this company’s commercials for the Jitterbug telephone and TV Ears, but they have a lot more gadgets that might meet the needs of your elder.  The site says it’s for “boomers and beyond” – so gifts appropriate for the younger, older set as well.  If you’re looking for an easy to use computer, check out their Go Computer.

Elderluxe– More upscale products for baby boomers and seniors.  Like the digital grab bag that displays a photo slideshow for grandma! Need help?  They offer a concierge service by email to help you find the perfect gift.

Solutions – products that help make life a easier includes a special section of holiday gifts.  Not a senior specific site, it includes products for all ages.

 ReadHowYouWant– looking for a book for an avid reader with sight limitations?  Try ReadHowYouWant.  You can customize the print size on a wide selection of books to make them accessible—large print, Braille, Daisy digital audio files –bestsellers to classics.

Have you found a great source of gifts for older people?  Have some gift ideas that have worked particularly well?  At a time when we’re all trying to save a bit on our holiday gifts, have you found some unique gift sites that also offer special deals?

Share your favorite gift websites and gift ideas for older adults.

*Longevity Alliance does not have business relationships with any of these organizations.