jcsmilez
Gold Member
- 641
Hey All,
I'm curious about your thoughts on this one. A few of my relatives and I would really like to get a computer for my (87 yo) grandmother who has become increasingly isolated since my grandfather passed away. I live 1.5 hours away and hope to go up at least a couple times a month to visit and could help her with it then. My parents live in the same town but are completely overwhelmed and burdened by the current responsibilities of being the nearest relative and DO NOT want us to get her a computer for fear that every time a little box (or whatever) comes up they will be required to go over and "fix" it. They are convinced that it will be just one more thing "dumped" on them. My grandma has been known to say, upon my mother's arrival, "Oh, good you're here, I've been wanting to watch this movie all day but don't know how to get the VCR to work." Yikes!
If she were motivated enough to be willing to learn with out my mother holding her hand every step of the way I think she would really benefit from having a computer with internet access. She is an avid researcher and get get to or lift the books in her library, she has friends and family across the US and in the UK that she is "amazed" that I can communicate with instantly and "for free." She is very interested in geneology and just purchased me a year membership to ancestry.com so I can continue researching family history but would love to see the records and results herself. She has a difficult time writing now days but used to type on the typewriter long ago.... Anyways --- What do you think?
Have any of you helped an elderly, technologically challenged person learn to use a computer? Were you successful?
If we were to purchase one, what would be a good lap top that is easy to use and inexpensive?
Are there helpful websites that you know of that I can bookmark for her? Or, how about a simple tutorial that you would recommend (like one of the Dummies books)?
Any and all thoughts and advice appreciated. Thanks!
I'm curious about your thoughts on this one. A few of my relatives and I would really like to get a computer for my (87 yo) grandmother who has become increasingly isolated since my grandfather passed away. I live 1.5 hours away and hope to go up at least a couple times a month to visit and could help her with it then. My parents live in the same town but are completely overwhelmed and burdened by the current responsibilities of being the nearest relative and DO NOT want us to get her a computer for fear that every time a little box (or whatever) comes up they will be required to go over and "fix" it. They are convinced that it will be just one more thing "dumped" on them. My grandma has been known to say, upon my mother's arrival, "Oh, good you're here, I've been wanting to watch this movie all day but don't know how to get the VCR to work." Yikes!
If she were motivated enough to be willing to learn with out my mother holding her hand every step of the way I think she would really benefit from having a computer with internet access. She is an avid researcher and get get to or lift the books in her library, she has friends and family across the US and in the UK that she is "amazed" that I can communicate with instantly and "for free." She is very interested in geneology and just purchased me a year membership to ancestry.com so I can continue researching family history but would love to see the records and results herself. She has a difficult time writing now days but used to type on the typewriter long ago.... Anyways --- What do you think?
Have any of you helped an elderly, technologically challenged person learn to use a computer? Were you successful?
If we were to purchase one, what would be a good lap top that is easy to use and inexpensive?
Are there helpful websites that you know of that I can bookmark for her? Or, how about a simple tutorial that you would recommend (like one of the Dummies books)?
Any and all thoughts and advice appreciated. Thanks!