After the Covid-19 pandemic, in a world where technology evolves at the speed of light, very few baby boomers continue to find themselves uninterested, frightened or bewildered by technological engagement. In today’s world, seniors are staying in the workforce longer than they did in the past, or reinventing themselves with a specific goal for further personal growth, entrepreneurship or proactive monetary achievements.
Many baby boomers have chosen to continue to work past the usual retirement age for various reasons. There are workforce wellness platforms available for those who choose to continue their careers and find that having someone readily available to assist them is a plus.
Jean Castro of Rochdale Village in Jamaica is a member of Community Board 12 and chairs its Health and Senior Citizen Committee. She also is a protégée of state Assemblywoman Vivian Cook (D-Jamaica). Castro is one of the many baby boomers who are computer- and cell phone-savvy.
“Technology is an essential part of today’s fast-paced world,” she said. “With all of my responsibilities, I don’t know what I would do without my iPhone and computer. But the one thing that I do know is that I wouldn’t be able to accomplish as many tasks as I do without them in a 24-hour period. As a matter of fact, other than texting, calling, and emailing, Google and Zoom are the features that I find to be the best assets of them all!”
“As much as I appreciate today’s technological devices, on the down side, it’s a shame that people have to be on the lookout for scams and hacking. I’ve read an article a while ago in an AARP magazine, that senior citizens are primary targets of hackers,” added Castro.
Time and technology are moving at a rapid pace, and to keep up with the shift in how the world operates, baby boomers have had very few choices: Get on board with the advancement of technology or “get left in the dust.”
Bridging generation gaps is easier said than done, for there are still a few baby boomers who find engagement with technological devices as exhausting as walking across a long, tiresome bridge.
Muriel Wilcher has been retired for eight years as the director of her local food pantry. Wilcher was asked how she felt about cellphones and computers.
Wilcher said, “When I was working, I had an assistant to put the necessary information in the computer. I get very disgusted trying to operate a computer because I never learned how to use one.”
After a short pause and a heavy breath, Wilcher added, “To tell you the truth, I get so aggravated trying to use them that it literally raises my blood pressure, and I already have a pre-existing condition. Who needs it?
“It would be nice if senior citizens had a place in their community that taught a class for computer dummies.”
Dr. Carol Quade, a gerontologist who specializes in digital literacy, said, “In an era dominated by digital media, cultivating media literacy skills is essential to navigate the digital landscape safely and confidently.” Quade explains the dangers of online misinformation and the unique challenges older adults face as they navigate the web.
Nonetheless, even though there are dangerous threats in navigating today’s high-tech devices, baby boomers are increasingly embracing and loving theirs.
As technology becomes increasingly woven into everyday life, most baby boomers have learned to operate and navigate a host of smart and digital devices. Many boomers have come to rely not only on operating them efficiently, but also on them as a whole. Many people 55 and up who avoided technology prepandemic now rely on digital tools.
Telehealth usage among baby boomers has increased 469 percent. The autonomous nature of the baby boom generation makes telehealth a natural fit for those opposed to transferring to facilities with on-site physicians. Eighty-seven percent of baby boomers want to remain in their homes and communities as they age.
As boomers have found that cell phones and computers are an essential part of life, telehealth provides them with virtual consultations, online doctor’s appointments, prescription refills, and medical billing.
Telehealth services may allow the lower-stress comfort of multitasking while being present at one’s job. It alleviates rushing to meet doctor’s appointments and gives people a sense of comfort and relief as they go through other required daily tasks.
According to AARP, many baby boomers have chosen Consumer Cellular due to its senior citizen discounts. The service provides clear plans, no contract and easy signup. The plan can be perfect for seniors who seek simplicity in a cell phone.
After researching customer satisfaction among baby boomers and Consumer Cellular buyers, I have come to find that not only they but the generation before them are customers.
Hazel Ramzey is a 92-year-old retired health care worker who was introduced to Consumer Cellular by one of her close friends. She uses her cell phone on a daily basis.
“I use my cell phone more than I use my land phone. I find it to be convenient not having to look through my phone book for a person’s number. All I have to do is go through my call log,” said Ramzey.
Ramzey adds, “As an elderly person, I love playing the free games on my phone. It helps to keep my mind sharp and keep me occupied.”
Ramzey smiles, saying, “I refuse to be put out to pasture with anything that is going on in the world. I’m still very much young at heart!”
According to GWI data and Razorfish, nearly three in four boomers now feel confident using technology, and 88 percent say they will continue to use digital tools to make life easier and have come to rely on them.
Many baby boomers have decided that things such as online banking leave them significant time to do other important tasks, or just to breathe and relax. Technology has also given some boomers a sense of comfort and allows them to engage with others in the comfort of their home, from near and far.
Zoom is a program used by people all over the world for various reasons, including personal and professional ones. It’s amazing how folks over 60 years of age use Zoom on a daily basis.
“One thing that I appreciate most, especially when the world shut down in 2020, is being able to actually see my loved ones by using FaceTime, and/or Zoom. It makes me feel like I’m actually visiting my loved ones, being able to see their faces and their environment,” Ramzey said.
Technological connectedness is not only done via phone, e-mails, Zoom meetings, text messages or DMs, but social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and YouTube have also taken on a life of their own. These various platforms allow their users a sense of close intimacy with each other, while providing a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week, 365-day-a-year, uninterrupted, constant, and consistent connectivity.
It is also very interesting to know that 55 percent of older adults have used some form of AI, primarily voice assistants (50 percent) and chatbots (25 percent).
Suzanne White is a certified nurse assistant who has worked in this field for the past 26 years. She is not required to do any type of technological engagement. She deals directly with her clients. However, White does own a desk computer, which she utilizes for various reasons.
White said, “I do not own a cellphone. Never did, and I doubt that I ever will. I just find it so unnecessary and costly. But I do have a land phone and a desktop computer. Now, a home computer has become something that I greatly appreciate!”
“I like the advantage of being able to shop online, surf the web, visit various social media platforms, and use My Chart for keeping up with doctor’s appointments, and other reasons.
“In the world that we live in today, I find that a computer is a very helpful tool, and if I had to choose a portable device, it would be a tablet, not a cell phone,” adds White.
According to Generation.org and Pew Research, unlike smartphones and social media, today, 52 percent of baby boomers prefer a tablet. Ownership is now more comparable across generations. When it comes to smartphone-only internet users, only 11 percent of boomers use this method of obtaining information or direction.
Baby boomers have evolved, and continue to evolve, in engaging with technology. During the Covid-19 pandemic, while the people in the world had to take refuge in their homes, baby boomers experimented with technology and became comfortable with its use.
Suffice to say, post-Covid, computers and other technological devices have become a way of life for many baby boomers, who now cannot see themselves without what they have come to understand to be a remarkable tool.
