Why Older Adults Should Use Computers

In a study that included about 200 adults over the age of 65, it appears that “older adults that use computers seem to report fewer depressive symptoms, regardless of how many hours they use the computer,” write the researchers. These adults were randomly drawn from three different zip codes in lower Manhattan and filled questionnaires about computer use, mental health, and tasks of daily living.

Take a pole of your family and friends and you will find that computer use varies from no use, to just emailing, to managing finances and shopping/blogging daily. You might also find that those who have limited or no computer use, typically have safety concerns.

While computers, specifically the internet, do pose concerns, there are many ways to protect yourself. Here are some guidelines to keep yourself safe and avoid crashing your computer.

First, invest in a good antivirus program even if you only use email. Top antivirus programs can be found for around $30. Set your antivirus program to upload updates each time you use your computer so they can keep up with all the new viruses being launched. Most programs also include a scanning program to find viruses or Trojans hiding within your computer.

Second, turn off “pop up’s”. If one gets through, always “X” out. Guaranteed, you haven't won anything. As for “warning’s” that pop up, simply run your antivirus program.

Third, turn on your email spam filter and always report spam.

Fourth, if you blog or belong to a social network such as Facebook, don't make it public, allowing only those you know to view your pages.

Lastly, if you shop online, make sure when you get to the order page that the site address shows “httpS:” - This means it’s a secure connection. Also, companies listing full contact information and ship policies usually have nothing to hide.

For fun, research forwarded email stories, warnings or claims at www.snopes.com to check their validity.

Study Source: WebMD.com, Aug 22, 2005