A few weekends ago I schlepped to Florida to celebrate my grandmother’s 99th birthday. Being almost a century old, her vision and hearing is just not what it used to be, which makes communicating with others quite difficult for her. However, I was amazed by how much technology is available for her and other seniors (and other visually- and hearing-impaired folks). She had a hearing aid, which is pretty standard, but also a special phone with large numbers and a light that flashes when someone calls in case she doesn’t hear it ring.
The two pieces of technology that really blew me away, however, were a printing device called Presto, and an enlarger. The enlarger looks like a combination TV/overhead projector. If there is something my grandmother wants to read, she places it on the machine, and it appears enlarged on the screen. This enables her to read everything from the directions on prescription bottles, to her favorite philosophical texts, to emails from her grandchildren.
That’s right–my 99 year old grandmother loves email! My grandmother is unable to use a computer, but we can send her emails through the Presto machine, which looks like a regular HP printer. Over the weekend that I visited, daily horoscopes arrived, and several birthday wishes. After the emails are printed, all she has to do is walk them over to her enlarger and boom–she is able to remain connected with friends, family, and the outside world.
The best communication I have with my grandmother, however, is decidedly low-tech. It is face-to-face, looking her directly in the eyes, squeezing her hands, and telling her that I love her. However, because we live a thousand miles away from each other, and the phone has become an impossible barrier, email has to suffice. As soon as I got home from my trip, I sent her an email filled with photographs of our visit.
Margaret and Helen… blogging about the election in their 80s. As you can tell from the first post, they don’t mince words.
Reply to Luke
I don’t have much to say about this post, but I love it, so I wanted to thank you for it!As far as Margaret & Helen go, thanks for that link, Luke. It’s interesting how many people just don’t believe that it/they could be real. Some of the comments by the doubting Toms seem to reflect a general skepticism about what’s presented to them via the web (which is healthy enough), and yet lurking behind the dubiousness is perhaps also the sheer shock at the idea that two old ladies would have anything of import to contribute to the conversation. (And my favorite are the comments expressing surprise at the revelation that these two senior citizens curse…c’mon, people!)
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