Seniors in touch through computers

When Joseph Leonardi wants to go on a cruise, all he has to do is press a button.

He and other residents at the five senior apartment buildings on Carondelet Drive in Watervliet have been given an entrance ramp to the information superhighway, thanks to a grant from Neighborhood Networks, a program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Since April, the 150 seniors at the apartments managed by De Paul Housing Management of the Albany Diocese have been able to use 12 personal computers.

High-speed links

Nine of the PCs are located at one of the apartment buildings, Fontbonne Manor; the other three are distributed among Sanderson Court, Cabrini Acres and Carondelet Commons.

The computers come with a bevy of software, including Microsoft Office and Publisher, and high-speed internet access, according to E. Byrl Moore, marketing manager for DePaul.

Before using the computers, seniors attend training sessions with tutors from local business colleges and get one-on-one assistance from student volunteers from Shaker High School.

"They are starting from the basics," explained Brenda Krom, director of Fontbonne Manor. "A lot of seniors don't understand what 'left-click' is," and other seniors may need practice with mouse operation.

Options

Computer-lab users can bring in CDs, picture files, or their own games and programs, she noted; but they can't download files due to internet security concerns.

One of the largest areas of interest among the seniors is how to email faraway families, friends and technology-savvy "grandchildren, who can use a computer before they're weaned," joked Mr. Leonardi.

Many of the seniors also wish to make greeting cards, a skill that a group of beginners will tackle this fall.

Still learning

Mr. Leonardi enjoys emailing his grandchildren, surfing websites that relate to his interests and playing games.

"I want to learn," he said. "I like to look up travel. I punch in something and go on vacation. It's endless where you can go. You can see it all and never leave your armchair."

The computers have allowed him to continue being involved in a host of long-time interests:

* a World War II simulator brings back memories of his time as a Seabee;

* browsing food-related sites allows him to indulge his love of baking and cooking; and

* travel sites inspire his love of going on journeys.

Caution flags

The new technology is a foreign language to many of the residents, who have yet to put fingers to keyboard or hand to mouse, said Ms. Krom.

"We still have residents that are still learning the computer process, but we're getting there," she said. "We're trying to teach them confidence."

Many seniors need a little time to learn how computers work, explained resident Shirley Snyder, who calls herself a "beginner" when it comes to the PCs. To assist in the learning process, she advocates taking detailed notes and writing down questions.

"You have to write it down," said Mrs. Snyder, who uses the computers to keep in touch with family and print out recipes. "I don't get frustrated about anything. Life is too short."

More to do

In the works is a plan to help seniors learn to sign up for Medicare, EPIC and related information on-line, Ms. Krom said.

The room also serves a social function. It has become one of the complex's focal points, with Friday training sessions and daily usage of the lab slowly becoming a routine part of Carondelet Drive life.

"It gets residents together that normally wouldn't be together," Ms. Krom noted. "It gets them out of their apartments and doing something."

(9/22/05) [[In-content Ad]]