Learning how to use the internet on a computer, smartphone, or tablet can give you amazing benefits for your well-being—without ever having to leave your home. Especially for elderly Australians who are living longer after retirement, the internet can give you choices and control.
Here are 6 reasons why technology is good for you, regardless of your age or abilities.
#1 — Connect with family and friends
Communication platforms like Skype, Google Hangouts, and others make it easy for grandparents to have conversations with their grandkids on a daily basis. Imagine being able to hear about their day at school without worrying about long distance or international call charges.
#2 — Stay independent
You can handle a lot of life’s responsibilities online these days. You can pay your bills, transfer funds, and deposit checks with your bank’s app. Or you can order groceries and have them delivered. You can even make appointments online like eye appointments or your favourite salon. The internet helps you maintain control of your finances and other life aspects so you stay independent longer.
#3 — Keep mentally engaged and informed
The internet offers any type of information with just a click. You can stay abreast of what’s happening in your community, your country, and around the world. Or you can learn a new language through an online course. Online education resources like Coursera offer thousands of free online courses so you can learn about almost anything.
#4 — Meet new people
There are several ways to meet new people through the internet. You could search for an online book club to join or another club. There are forums and chat rooms with people who are like-minded or have similar interests. You just need to search the internet to find them. Or better yet, there are sites like meetup.com that lets you meet people with similar interests in person.
#5 — Make money on the side
Technology opens avenues to make money on the side. You could clear out your garage or attic and sell the items you don’t want on eBay. If you have a spare bedroom, you could even list it on Airbnb to rent out to vacationers. For those who like to write, there are plenty of online platforms to help you sell your writing and get published.
#6 — Offer peace of mind to your children
You know your children worry about how you’re holding up. Technology makes it easy and simple to check in with family regularly or even daily to let them know everything is okay. Or if you use My Guardian’s home care services, you and your family get free access to our My Guardian app. Your family can check the app to see what services you’re getting each day and which carer is providing them. And you can use the app to schedule or check on services.
Conclusion
Technology is a good way to connect with family and friends and to even meet new friends. You can take care of some of life’s issues online, and you can even make extra money. The above are just 6 of the many benefits technology can offer. Don’t let a lack of confidence keep you from jumping online.
If you think it’s time to learn more about technology and how to use the internet, contact My Guardian. We can help you gain confidence with technology and learn how to master it. Visit myguardian.com.au today or call us at 02 9336 7555.
