A Guide to Stay Connected – Part 3

If you know a senior who wants to learn to use social media videos, then send them the links so they can learn how to stay in touch with loved ones using their phones, tablets, iPads, laptop or desktop.

SERIES 3: TECH SAVVY SENIORS

The next series is called Tech Savvy Seniors: Tips and Tricks and How to Videos by Jim Costa Films and it offers seniors a view on how to use social media effectively. Jim Costa has a series that is useful to anyone, but he does focus on helping senior citizens become tech-savvy and helping seniors to become more familiar with technology to improve and better their lives. Jim has been a professional photographer and video producer for over 3 decades.

In the series, he offers tips, how-to advice and suggestions on tech topics including learning computers, smartphones, software, apps, photography, videography, video editing, audio production, lighting and more. Using a step by step process these videos provide a series that introduces seniors, to understand communication tools and Internet technology. Each video has a number of tips and tricks geared to help seniors gain a better understanding of social media. To connect go to

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBw3qczTjq1QTrbb0dAkpK76i56IMn0Y5

The series has 104 videos. Here are a few of the ones he has created:

Technology Seniors should learn

Technology Seniors Should Embrace This video introduces new technology that senior citizens should use to better their lives by staying active, healthy and safe.

Technology Senior Citizens Should Learn to Use This video offers tips and advice on technology that senior citizens should learn to use to improve their quality of life.

Technology for Seniors and the Elderly Part 1 of 2 This video discusses how senior citizens can first get access to and start to use the internet.

Technology for Seniors and the Elderly Part 2 of 2 This video continues the discussion of how senior citizens can first get access to and start to use the internet.

Technology to Help Seniors Remain at Home This video shows the technology available to help senior citizens remain in their homes rather than move into assisted living.

Email

How to Set up a Free Outlook, Gmail, Mail, AOL or Yahoo Email Account These step by step instructions will guide you through the process to set up your own email account and then send you the first message.

How to Keep Your Email Secure From Viruses and Malicious Software This video is a tutorial on how to keep your email secure from viruses and malicious software.

Google
Our recommendation is to reverse the order of the three Google tips videos…as the third one has the beginner basics that will hold interest and motivation to learn. 

Mastering Google Tips & Tricks This video offers 14 tips and tricks to master the search engine, Google. It is video #1 of 3 in the series and offers insider tips to learn secrets of searching Google for the best and most relevant results.

Mastering Google Tips & Tricks Video 2 This video offers 14 tips and tricks to master the search engine, Google. It is video #2 of 3 in the series and offers insider tips to learn secrets of searching Google for the best and most relevant results.

Mastering Google Tips & Tricks Video 3 This video offers 14 tips and tricks to master the search engine, Google. It is video #3 of 3 in the series and offers insider tips to learn secrets of searching Google for the best and most relevant results.

iPhones

How to Extend The Battery Life of Your iPhone Battery Part 1 of 2 This video offers 10 tips and tricks to extend the life of your iPhone battery. It is video #1 of 2 in the series and offers insider tips to learn secrets to extend the life of your iPhone batteries.

How to Extend The Battery Life of Your iPhone Part 2 of 2 his video offers 10 tips and tricks to extend the life of your iPhone battery. It is video #2 of 2 in the series and offers insider tips to learn secrets to extend the life of your iPhone batteries.

Mistakes Your Making With Your iPhone This video offers 9 tips and tricks to extend the life of your iPhone and offer ways to avoid common mistakes.

iPhone Insider Tips This video offers 15 tips and tricks to extend the life of your iPhone and offers ways to make the most of your smartphones.

iPhone Camera Insider Tips Many of us use our phones to take pictures and videos. This video offers 7 tips and tricks for your iPhone camera to ensure you take the best photos and videos possible.

A Guide to Stay Connected – Part 2

Sometimes the telephone is not enough, we need to see people. Seniors are aware of the importance of how to use social media to communicate as 90% of how we communicate and build relationships is through visual cues, not oral cues. Seniors should be able to use social media to entertain and educate while safely using the tools they have in their possession. Self-isolating is upsetting and can be harmful to elders, so to fight social separation many seniors could use social media tools. The concern is that countless seniors don’t.

Each video has a number of tips and tricks geared to help seniors gain a better understanding of social media. If you know a senior or are a senior who wants to learn to use social media videos, we have selected links that can help you learn how to stay in touch with your loved ones using social media.

SERIES: NAPOLEON’S IDIOT

The second series has a stranger name for a series on how to use social media, it is called Napoleon's Idiot, but it is a very good series. The series is about a number of conversations between a father and his daughter about social media. The father asks the questions he has and that members from his retirement home have and she answers the questions clearly in detail and it is entertaining to watch the interactions between the two. They share the screen as a video as she walks him through the answers to his questions

To connect to Napoleon's Idiot Series go to

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbbnKy5q8XTVClQ1ZmvvIoh7ItFRbk6ZW

We have selected some videos out of the  51 video series:

Teach your Parents New Technology with a Renewed Mind 5 things you can do to help your parents/grandparents learn new technology:

1. Don't buy them a new device and leave them high and dry

2. Allow them to touch it, feel it, and operate it

3. Don't assume they know what you're talking about

4. Find out what they want to do on their device

5. PATIENCE

How to Change my Facebook Password Changing your Facebook password every 6 months is highly recommended in this Episode of Napoleon's Idiot.

Getting Rid of and Disabling Facebook Messenger Chat Heads Want to know how to get rid of and/or disable those Facebook Messenger Chat Heads, the answer is here.

Can't Comment on Post on Facebook? This is why! If you see a post and want to comment sometimes you can and sometimes you cannot, this video explains why you can't comment on a public post and how can you can make it to where no one can comment on your post.

Facetime vs Skype - What's the Difference This video explains the difference between the two and actually shows how Facetime works.

How to hide the city you live in on Facebook - Staying Safe Online This video shows you how to hide the city you live in on Facebook and get even more private on Social networking sites.

Explaining the Difference between Instant Messaging and Messaging on Facebook This video explains the difference between Instant Messaging and sending a Message as you would an email.

A Guide to Stay Connected – Part 1

You can learn to use Skype, Facebook, Messenger, YouTube, Pinterest and your iPad. This post and the next four provides links to some training videos that are easy to follow and not intimidating.

Over the next four posts, I will be looking at resources for seniors to help them use social media in the time of this pandemic and beyond. Today’s unprecedented situation has caused us to self-isolate and that can be stressful and deadly for seniors. To battle that stress and loneliness seniors can turn to social media, but many are hesitant or reluctant to do so. Some potential reasons why include we:

1.     Don’t see a need to use the tools or we see it as a waste time

2.     Don’t know how to use the tools and the directions are difficult to follow

3.     Have concerns about safety and security online

4.     Medical conditions that prevent us from easily using computers etc.

5.     Don't like how they look in pictures or videos.

During this time when we cannot see our families the way we used to, social media provides opportunities for us to stay in contact with loved ones. That ability to virtually connect with your son, granddaughter, sister or favourite cousin should be enough to overcome those reasons listed above.

Though there are a lot of instructional videos out there that appear or claim to teach seniors how to use social media to beginners and seniors, many are just not that good or are very confusing, in fact, some of them are terrible. The good news is that I have put together four sets of videos that are good and easy to understand. Members of The Wilson Senior Center Advisory Board and Seniors Health and Wellness Institute Cosco reviewed the videos, agreed that these are worth watching if a senior wants to learn social media. Each of us has his/her own learning style and so we are posting information about all four series to allow those who learn differently to have some options.

In the following free videos, seniors can learn how to use social media in the comfort of their own home while watching TV or while using their computer, tablet, iPad or even iPhone. The videos are geared to those seniors who may not be tech-savvy. These videos are simple, easy to follow, and if you miss a step or have a question you can watch them again.

If a senior has an Internet connection and a computer or a TV provider that allows access to YouTube as one of its channels, they can learn to use social media. For help on setting up YouTube on your TV go to Watch YouTube TV on your TV or call your service provider for support. If you do have access to a tablet,  cellphone, or a computer with an internet connection you can gain access to the videos are on YouTube  or, as stated above videos can be watched on your TV.

SERIES: SOCIAL MEDIA 4 BEGINNERS

This series is a set of videos along with written instructions about some of the most used social media tools by seniors.

To connect to this series go to https://socialmedia4beginners.com/course-library/ or to connect to the individual courses in the series click on the links below:

SKYPE Course for Beginners (Seniors & Baby Boomers) 

What Skype is?

Download & Install Skype

Create a New Skype Account

Log-in & Out of your Account

How to Change Your Skype Profile Picture

Find family and friends

Make your first Video Call

How to send an Instant Message

How to Send a Photo Through Skype

FACEBOOK Course for Beginners (Seniors & Baby Boomers)

Create a Facebook Account

How to log into and out of a Facebook Account

Adding Profile & Cover Photo

Connecting with Family and Friends

How to Use Audience Selector Tools

What is your Homepage?

What is the News Feed?

What is Your Facebook Profile Page?

What is my Facebook Timeline?

What is a Facebook Like?

How to Comment on a Facebook Post

What is a Share on Facebook

How to Share a Post on Facebook

What does Tagging Mean?

How to Add Photos to Facebook

Creating Album & Adding Multiple Photos

Adding a Photo to a friend’s Timeline

FACEBOOK Settings & Privacy (Seniors & Baby Boomers)

Facebook general settings*

Blocking Settings on Facebook*

Changing Your Language Settings on Facebook*

Facebook Security and Login Settings*

Privacy and Settings: Timeline and Tagging Settings

*No written instructions

FACEBOOK Messenger for Beginners (Seniors & Baby Boomers)

Overview of Messenger*

Messenger: Overall Settings

Chat, Text, and Stickers

How to Send Money on Messenger

Don't be Scammed - 5 Steps to take Before you Confirm that Friend Request

Messenger: Customizing Options

Messenger: Options Within Chat Box

Removing Yourself from Group Messages on Facebook

Deleting Messages & Adding Reactions

Video Chatting and Voice Calling on Facebook

YOUTUBE Course for Beginners (Seniors & Baby Boomers)

Learn all About YouTube and How it Can Enhance Your Life

How to Create a New YouTube Account

How to Log in and Out of YouTube

Add Profile Picture to YouTube Account

Navigating YouTube Home Page Difference Between YouTube Channel vs Account

How to Make a New YouTube Channel

Subscribing to YouTube Channels

How to Create a YouTube Playlist

How to Comment on YouTube Videos

How to Share a YouTube Video

Saving YouTube Videos to Watch Later

IPAD Course for Beginners (Seniors & Baby Boomers)

Introduction to the iPad

Initial iPad Set up

Learning the iPad buttons

Understanding the iPad Gestures

Navigate Your iPad Like a Pro

PINTEREST Course for Beginners (Seniors & Baby Boomers)

What is Pinterest and How to Use it

Create New Pinterest Account Plus How to Login & Out

How to Quickly Add or Edit Pinterest Profile Picture

How to Add Pinterest Browser Button

How to Find Friends on Pinterest and Make Sure it’s the RIGHT Person

How to Create a Board on Pinterest

How to Make Pinterest Private

Pinterest Account Settings.

How to Delete a Pin or Board

How to Block Someone on Pinterest

Medical Assistance in Death

My wife’s brother’s daughter, our niece who was in her early 50’s recently died of Pancreatic Cancer and she used the Medical Assistance in Death law that we have in Canada. Her loss is felt by her children, her parents, by us and all of her close relatives and friends. The grieving will take a long time, I came across an interesting article in the BC Medical Journal that looks at the issue of providing bereavement support to families when someone in the family has chosen this option from the medical providers' point of view.

The study concluded that bereavement following a medically assisted death is unique and bereavement support is needed. While most respondents consider providing bereavement support to be a moral and/or professional obligation, they also believe this responsibility should be shared between the family physician and the MAID provider.

What was encouraging is that in response to findings from this study, a guide for patients and families experiencing MAID is now available to support healthy grieving. The guide is available here (pdf file)

Here is an excerpt from the guide:

You have likely put a great deal of thought into your decision to request Medical Assistance in Death (MAiD). Faced with advanced, incurable disease and disability, you have determined that at some point your symptoms and decline will become intolerable and you wish to have an assisted death.

By this time, you have had a formal assessment with one or more physicians or nurse practitioners (NPs) are aware of the options available to you, and have also completed the Patient Request Record form.

Period of Reflection

Typically, there is a 10-day minimum waiting period between your request date and the day you may receive MAiD. This time is formally referred to as the Period of Reflection and is meant to ensure that you have time to carefully consider your decision. An exception could be made to the reflection period if both your first and second medical or nurse practitioner agree that:

•        your death is fast approaching, or

•        you might soon lose your capacity to provide informed consent.

It may be reassuring to know that even though you have been approved, you may still have questions, fears, and worries to work through. Living with dying may be new to you and you may also experience anticipatory grief. You may decide to hold off on setting the date for MAiD to wait and see how things progress. Or, you may have been thinking about this a long time and want to proceed.

·        During this period of reflection, you may want to focus on the people and activities that you enjoy most and consider:

·        What do I most want to do (practical tasks, outings, projects, bucket list activities)?

·        How would I like to spend this time (alone or with others or a combination)?

·        Who should I see and what is important for me to say to these people?

·        What memories or stories do I want to share (highlights, achievements, regrets)?

·        Share information and memories with your family and friends in a way that works for you, whether written or recorded.

·        Do not postpone difficult decisions or conversations; talking about hard things will resolve anxiety and contribute to your peace of mind.

·        What do I need and want help with, and who can help me?

·        Those close to you may experience anticipatory grief; which is a feeling of grief occurring before an impending loss. If they do they should talk with each other and/or a professional if needed.

·        If you have questions or concerns, talk with your family, friends, physician or Nurse Practioner.

·        This is naturally a time of reflection but also take the time to enjoy yourself.