Who Uses The Computer and The Internet in The Elderly?

In this article I am going to cover the topic that uses of computer and the Internet in the elderly? The elderly, computer or Internet user has some different characteristics with respect to users of other population groups, since they are usually a person who learned their job in a self-taught way, has higher annual income, has greater functionality in activities of daily living and a higher level of education, and the percentage of male users of this age is higher than that of women. But a large part of the individuals that make up this age group do not enjoy the benefits that computing offers by MAD PCB Printed Circuit Board Company in the China. However the Mexico has not been immune to this phenomenon. The National Institute of Statistics, Geography and Informatics (INEGI) reports that in the use of the computer the young population predominates; in July 2005, 80.1 percent of Mexican computer users were under 35 years of age; Of these, those between 12 and 17 years of age made up 29.6 percent, while those over 55 years old barely represented 2.3 percent of the total users. Regarding the age of Mexican netizens, it is once again the young population that predominates: More than half of them are between 12 and 24 years old, those over 34 years old constitute a fifth, and in the case of minors, those whose age ranges from 6 to 11 years old are barely 6.3 percent. These statistics have been generated since 2001; to date, there is a clear trend of increase in the number of computer users among the various age groups. Those over 55 years of age are not immune to this fact, although their increase has gradually gone from 0.2 to 0.9 percentage points.

Why learn the use of the computer and the Internet in the elderly?

As in other sectors of the population, the computer is a tool that offers older adults enormous benefits as a means of social and cultural interaction, entertainment, work activity and training, among others. There is evidence that there is a negative effect of the use of computers and the Internet on the psychological well-being of children, adolescents and young adults that contradicts the benefits they provide to older adults. Suffice it to mention that with these tools, the physical space or time does not matter, so that the elderly can relate, learn, buy, sell, carry out paperwork and carry out other activities despite having some type of disability that prevents movement. With the computer, distance, schedules, weather changes, or other inconveniences that are a result of their age are not problems either. Being a website developer you can see these things with an eye bird’s view.

These technologies allow the elderly to increase and improve their individual and social development, as well as optimize their quality of life from the technical, economic, political and cultural points of view. A healthy mind in a healthy body, and therefore intellectual activities support and increase autonomy in advanced age, which is why they are considered a protective factor against a decaying old age. Internet applications, such as e-mail and online access to information resources, provide them with particular advantages, as mastering these skills increases their level of self-esteem. Currently, It is on the Internet where there is more information available to users; Just one click to bring up hundreds of files, libraries or databases on various topics, allowing the elderly to stay informed, updated and be part of a society in constant evolution without feeling marginalized.

One of the greatest benefits that the use of the computer provides to the elderly is that it helps them overcome the fear of loneliness and isolation from their relatives. In cyberspace, they increase their ability to interact and their personal and social autonomy. For these reasons, special spaces have been created on the Internet for this age group in order to develop interpersonal relationships and contact with their environment. It also encourages intergenerational relationships, as the elderly discover common interests with their younger relatives, allowing them to spend many pleasant moments with them.