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Stop Calling Me Honey, Please!

By Johanna

Hospital bedRecently, both of my parents managed to end up in the hospital… flu and a broken bone. After a few days in the hospital they moved to a “rehab facility” to speed up their recovery before returning to their home. Luckily, both are making good progress and they should be able to return home soon.

Both of my parents (and myself) are most appreciative of the help and support they are receiving during this ordeal:

  • wonderful support from my sister and from all of their friends
  • expert care and assistance from staff at the hospital and the rehab facility

It takes a lot of attention and care to get someone back on their feet – this is probably even more the case if people are in their 80s and 90s, as my parents are.

While in the rehab facility, my parents are fortunate enough to be staying in the same room, which reduces some of the “discomfort’ that comes with being away from your home and your day to day routine.

Let’s face it, it’s hard for anyone to be away from home and even more so if it’s unexpected! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Wiser Living Tagged With: Musings, power of words, senior

Are You An Early Adopter?

By Johanna

Retro TV SetTechnology keeps changing and evolving, no doubt about it. And it keeps changing faster and faster all the time.

Are you keeping up or running way behind?

There are those who keep up with changes in technology and often are the first to try out new products and services. Traditionally this is the smallest segment of the population, falling into one of two categories: Innovator or Early Adopter.

You know who they are…

They are the brave souls camping outside the Apple store in the middle of winter! All of that just to be the first to get their hands on the latest i-device.

My hat is off to you “Innovators and Early Adopters”!

You won’t find me camped outside an Apple or other store for anything, ever! But then again, I am not an early adopter.

5 categories of adopters:

In general, consumers are grouped into different categories sharing similar behaviors with respect to adopting new products and services.

Briefly, these categories are:

  • Innovators – 2 to 3% of population, very first to adopt new products
  • Early Adopters – 13% of market eager for new products, influence others
  • Early Majority – 34% of market, adopt products when semi established
  • Late Majority – 34% of market adopts product once established
  • Laggards – adopt when there is no other way… old product goes away

Innovators and early adopters are the two smallest groups, roughly equal to the number of laggards. The early and late majority of adopters comprise the two biggest groups.

In other words, fewer individuals are eager to buy technology until it’s established, at least to a certain degree.

How does the older generation factor into this equation?

Historically, seniors have been late adopters when compared to the younger generation. However, this trend seems to be changing.

Research conducted by the Pew Research Center outlines some interesting findings with respect to seniors and technology. In this study, seniors were defined as individuals age 65+.

“Two different groups of older Americans emerge.

The first group (which leans toward younger, more highly educated, or more affluent seniors) has relatively substantial technology assets, and also has a positive view toward the benefits of online platforms.

The other (which tends to be older and less affluent, often with significant challenges with health or disability) is largely disconnected from the world of digital tools and services, both physically and psychologically.

As the internet plays an increasingly central role in connecting Americans of all ages to news and information, government services, health resources, and opportunities for social support, these divisions are noteworthy—particularly for the many organizations and individual caregivers who serve the older adult population.

In April 2012 the Pew Research Center found for the first time that more than half of older adults (65+) were internet users.

Today, 59% of seniors report they go online—a six-percentage point increase in the course of a year—and 47% say they have a high-speed broadband connection at home. In addition, 77% of older adults have a cell phone, up from 69% in April 2012.

But despite these gains, seniors continue to lag behind younger Americans when it comes to tech adoption. And many seniors remain largely unattached from online and mobile life—41% do not use the internet at all, 53% do not have broadband access at home, and 23% do not use cell phones.

Younger, higher-income, and more highly educated seniors use the internet and broadband at rates approaching—or even exceeding—the general population; internet use and broadband adoption each drop off dramatically around age 75.

Seniors, like any other demographic group, are not monolithic, and there are important distinctions in their tech adoption patterns, beginning with age itself.

Internet use and broadband adoption among seniors each fall off notably starting at approximately age 75. Some 68% of Americans in their early 70s go online, and 55% have broadband at home.

By contrast, internet adoption falls to 47% and broadband adoption falls to 34% among 75-79 year olds.

In addition, affluent and well-educated seniors adopt the internet and broadband at substantially higher rates than those with lower levels of income and educational attainment:

Among seniors with an annual household income of $75,000 or more, 90% go online and 82% have broadband at home.

For seniors earning less than $30,000 annually, 39% go online and 25% have broadband at home.

Fully 87% of seniors with a college degree go online, and 76% are broadband adopters.

Among seniors, who have not attended college, 40% go online and just 27% have broadband at home.”

If you’d like to read a bit more detail about the research conducted by the  PewResearch Internet Project, go to http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/04/03/older-adults-and-technology-use/

As you can see, when it comes to technology and internet, there seems to be a clear delineation along economics and age.

However, as the internet becomes more and more entrenched in our daily lives and prices for high speed internet connection and data services are decreasing, I would not be surprised to see these numbers change dramatically.

I suspect that over time we will see broad use of online “everything” for all income and age groups.

This is good news as pretty soon “online” and “internet” will have replaced most, if not all that I grew up with… land line phone, walk in bank, writing checks, walk in bookstore, writing a letter… and the list goes on.

But regardless of how the future will unfold, sooner than later the laggards will run out of time.

 

Filed Under: Wiser Living Tagged With: senior, technology

When Did You Become A Senior?

By Johanna

Senior Woman RunningA few years ago, when I moved from a regular phone to a smart phone, I had the first indication that I had been advanced to the “senior” category.

While comparing different smart phones I asked the sales person, a male in his early 30s, for more information about certain phone features. After numerous questions and answers were resolved, I needed specific pricing information and that’s when it came!

He looked at me, paused and then said: “Depending on your age, we do have discounts for seniors available”. And I don’t believe I heard anything else after that!

I remember thinking: “Ya, right I’ll buy a phone from you buddy! What is he thinking! I’m only 55 and he’s referring to me as a senior? I don’t believe this…!

Had a similar experience?

I didn’t think of myself as a senior then and I don’t think of myself as a senior now, four month shy of 60.

The last time I was carded for alcohol I was 41. What happened?

The term senior brings up many different images for me, not all of them are positive. Some of my own stuff, probably. But some from a society that values youth and most of what goes along with it.

This brings up the question what does the term “senior” actually mean? And after just a little digging, here is what I found.

First the dictionary: many dictionaries and many definitions. Without going into too much detail, most definitions define a senior as:
An elderly person, who is retired or whose principal source of support is a pension or Social Security benefits.

I don’t know about you, however, I am not retired and my principle sources of support are neither pension nor social security benefits.

Next Wikipedia, which tells us that “The age which qualifies for senior citizen status varies widely. In governmental contexts it is usually associated with an age at which pensions or medical benefits for the elderly become available. In commercial contexts, where it may serve as a marketing device to attract customers, the age is often significantly lower.

In the United States, the standard retirement age is currently 65 (gradually increasing to 67). In Canada, the OASP (Old Age Security Pension) is available at 65 (gradually increasing to 67, starting in the period 2023-2029),[9] and the CPP (Canada Pension Plan) as early as age 60.

The AARP allows couples in which one spouse has reached the age of 50 to join, regardless of the age of the other spouse.”

There you have it!

The term senior is applied across an array of situations. And if you’re past the age of 50 you may be considered a senior no matter if you feel like a senior or you’re ready for it.

As for me, I think it’s time to redefine the term “senior” for myself, free from societal stereotypes and limitations. And I came across a video from CNN-IBN (Indian Broadcasting Network) that helped me do just that.

The video features a Senior Citizen Awards ceremony: “Live begins at 60: Retired but not Tired”.
The 12 individuals honored are truly inspiring! Enjoy…

 

 

Filed Under: Wiser Living Tagged With: retirement, senior

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