SUNDRE — Increasing dependency on digital connectivity to function in daily life in a world endeavouring to as much as possible go paperless has been a long-running 21st century trend that was drastically accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This development has underscored the need to ensure seniors are adequately brought up to speed on the digital literacy skills that are required, and taken for granted by many, in the modern age.
Recognizing this reality — especially in a community with more than double the province’s average senior population — Joyce Wicks felt compelled to apply for a federal grant under Service Canada called New Horizons for Seniors Program.
“Many local, provincial and federal institutions assume that everyone knows how to follow and use online formats, and it is very frustrating for seniors who have not had that orientation to these mediums,” she said.
Funding to the tune of $25,000 facilitated her effort to introduce a new initiative called Sundre Seniors Go Virtual - Covid Style, which included purchasing 11 laptops from Gadgets Computers in town.
Wicks serves as the program’s volunteer advisory committee as chair alongside fellow members Jodi Orr, treasurer, as well as Angela Hasselman, Maggie Brooks, and Kris Bray.
She said the initiative’s objective is to help Sundre-area residents aged 55 and over acquire or improve their computer skills to better enable them to communicate and access not only local services as well as programs but also provincial and federal government services.
“Health restrictions have accelerated the social isolation of seniors who feel locked out of opportunities as many events, services and socialization has gone virtual,” she wrote in the grant’s application.
“More and more critical services are only accessible online,” she later added. “Consequently, computer education is critical in supporting social participation, addressing social isolation, combating ageism and promoting inclusion.”
Weekly sessions got started on Wednesday, Oct. 6 at the Sundre West Country Centre in a classroom setting under pandemic protocols including physical distancing and verification of double vaccination status.
Each class runs for three hours, winding up with a luncheon that provides the added benefit of creating an opportunity to socialize, which was also among the requirements outlined in the grant, she said.
Under the instruction of Fay Jorgenson -- a Sundre-area resident with a master of education who has also taught at Olds College -- 10 seniors have through the course of four sessions learned more about how to use computers and smartphones to access online platforms ranging from banking services to government programs as well as video conferencing to participate either in community organizations or even continuing education.
“Being able to participate in the virtual world allows seniors to gain employment or volunteer appointments because they have the commodity of virtual skills,” said Wicks.
“So many seniors are eligible for services and finances but do not know how to access and apply without computer skills. Seniors are marginalized, especially in rural settings.”
The grant funding application was submitted last year and later approved this past March.
But in the face of more stringent restrictions at the time, the program’s delivery was delayed until more recently.
Wicks said since following through with the intention of the funding took longer than anticipated, she hopes to extend the program to continue running monthly until next June. Should the stars align, she hopes to have the program provide assistance to 90 seniors by the end.
Student “less fearful” of computers
At least one of the program’s participants would without hesitation recommend the course.
“This is certainly a big help for anyone who’s kind of intimated a bit by their computer or their phone, to make them a little more confident,” said Sundre resident Eva Dombowsky.
“Because it’s becoming a more and more techy world,” she said. “Seniors didn’t grow up with technology, and everything nowadays is technology.”
Although Dombowsky went into the course with a rudimentary knowledge of some of the basics, she nevertheless learned plenty of useful tips and tricks. After all, knowing something in theory is one thing, but being able to do it in practice is another.
“(Jorgenson) helped us navigate some of the tech world that she thought we would be more apt to use on a more regular basis,” Dombowsky said.
Describing the instructor as very knowledgeable, she said the lessons included step-by-step how-tos on everything from setting up an appointment online with Alberta Labs to booking a flight.
“One of the neatest things she did, was she showed us how to (set up) a Google meeting,” she said, adding the ability to connect virtually with friends and family is really important, especially for seniors who have been isolated during the pandemic and perhaps have not had the opportunity to see loved ones for a long time.
“This was really actually quite easy,” she said about the setting up the video conference.
The students also learned how to get a photo, crop it and then attach it to an email, and how to create a digital signature to fill out certain online forms or applications.
“I’ve come across some things where they said I needed my (digital) signature,” said Dombowsky, adding she was previously unable to do that since she didn’t know how.
“She took us through that process,” she said. “She actually got us to email that signature to ourselves, so it’s on our own computers now.”
Another handy lesson was an introduction to the clipboard on how to cut, copy and paste.
“It boggles my mind!” Dombowsky said with a laugh. “She showed us keys that were copy-paste and that kind of stuff on the computer, which I didn’t know that’s what they were for.”
Although the students did most of the course using the Chromebooks, they were instructed to bring in their own laptop or smartphone for the last class, she said.
“She made me less fearful of my computer,” said Dombowsky, who uses a MacBook Air.
Above and beyond the opportunity to learn more about her laptop, she was also grateful for the opportunity to connect with other seniors.
“Joyce Wicks does an excellent job. She’s a super organizer, and every week we had a really delicious lunch from a local restaurant, which is very important because they’re all struggling,” she said, sending a shout-out to both Wicks and Jorgenson. “They did an awesome job.”
