5/28/2010

Silver surfing

Residents aged from 50 to 90 years tackled electronic waves on Silver Surfers’ Day.

Twelve residents from SBHG's supported housing service learnt about what the digital world has to offer them.

SBHG used a specific course designed for older people by Digital Unite. During the day residents learnt how to make computers more accessible by magnifying the screen, using the computer narrator and making the mouse pointer bigger.

Residents learnt the basics of how the mouse and keyboard work. By the end of the session they had set up email accounts and sent their first emails to each other.

They were also taught how to search the internet for information on local services and local authority websites to find out what they could benefit from.

At aged 88 Joan Trotman took part in the course. Joan said: “I've never used a computer before. Today I sent my first email at the age of 88. We played great games on the computer to get us used to using the mouse. It was really good fun.”

SBHG’s supported housing manager, Rose Hircock, said: “We followed the Silver Surfers’ Day training plan and found that residents picked up the information well. They clearly enjoyed the sessions and were really proud of their achievements. We would recommend it to any organisation that works with older people, as it shows them how much they can get out of the internet and computers.”

For more information
Hannah Stokes
Tel: 020 8996 4237
Email: Hannah.stokes@sbhg.co.uk