Is it difficult for the elderly to use smart phones? Let's explore!!!

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Grey hair is a symbol of age and wisdom. Yet, it comes as a marvel and a contradiction when elderly people are unable to use smart phones the way we, the younger generation, do. We may have come across children as young as three to five years of age who have begun navigating the features of a smart phone.

Smart phones are mobile devices likened to computer sets with features such as touchscreens, the usage of applications, internet access, etc., making them more complex and sophisticated than cell phones.

A significant percentage of elderly individuals are less concerned about smart phones; however, those that have had access to smart phones can be a testament to the ease of using them. Most elderly people are content with making and receiving phone calls. Navigating beyond reading a text message and calling or receiving a phone call is usually challenging for them. Children are fast learners, and this will be noticed in their verbal stages compared to their elderly parents, who take extra caution for every step they take.

I had a challenging moment putting my parents through the usage of smart phones (both are well over sixty years of age). This can be likened to someone driving a car who has never learned how to drive. The peculiarity of a smart phone lies in the navigation of the phone through the touching of the sensitive screen, and a good number of times, the function will not pull through either because the focus (e.g., opening the message app) was pressed too quickly or not pressed at all. You know that moment when they tell you they pressed, but it was not responding? Yeah.

Describing a smart phone to the elderly can be technical; however, my attempt will go as follows:

Communication: I would gladly tell them the device can send messages in split seconds through different means that require only a little tariff. These include, but are not limited to, Short Message Service (SMS) or WhatsApp. Through the payment of some tariffs, the elderly can also talk to someone else who may be near or far. These are calls through the phone app or WhatsApp. The juicy part would be that a smart phone can bring to life an image of the person they want to see. This implies that they can see an individual who may be located in far-away Europe when they are here in Nigeria. This will definitely amuse them when apps like WhatsApp bring their loved ones into their vision.

Information: Smart phones have high internet speeds, and they can bring information to our doorstep. We have seen many elderly people addicted to the national dailies (newspapers) and news stations on television, especially the 9 p.m. Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), which many times inconveniences us, the youths. It will be a wonder to them to know that through smart phones, they can get all the news at the snap of their fingers, including watching live streams of programs they are unable to attend.

Technology: you know, with a smart phone, you can monitor events even when you are not there? Such as using closed-circuit television (CCTV) and also making transactions from the smart phone without having to undergo the burden of leaving the house to enter the banking hall? Have you heard of Google Assistants? Ella, Siri, and the like? Or using Google Maps through the Global Positioning System (GPS) to locate a place or someone? These are technological advancements readily available on smart phones.

With a lot more benefits on the smart phone, taking the elderly through the features one step at a time would be an interesting, delightful, and easier moment for them as I navigate the smart phone for and with them.

Thank you for reading. I would love to have your comments and contributions 🤗.