Hi-Tech

Sorry I haven't posted in a while but I was at a conference learning how technology is going to affect our generation. OK, I can hear everyone saying "DUH...." out there, but think about this.

The reality is that Medicare and Social Security literally will not have enough people to answer the phones so that we can ask questions about how these programs affect us. And, unlike our elders, we are smartasses, and we will start to ask all kinds of "stump the chump" questions just to show the person on the other end of the phone that we are brighter than they are.

So they've done us one better. They are moving many of the functions of these two agencies (Social Security Administration and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services) to a virtual online presence. You can ask for a printout of your benefits, you can pick your own drug list, you can keep track of your medical bills.

But what about those people who aren't computer savvy?

The reality is that people 50+ better get with the program and fast because pretty soon the world will feel like you have "no excuses." It will be the equivalent of someone saying "I don't have a phone."

There's another reason to start being more tech-savvy and that is that, as we age, we can become more isolated. Technology can close the gap for people who can't get out much and can't jump in a car or on a plane every time they want to interact with friends. A new article in the NY Times http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/02/health/02face.html?_r=1&emc=eta1 talks about how older people can maintain friendships with the help of social networking sites.

Believe it or not, the conference I attended encouraged us to reach out to elders with things like Facebook and Twitter. And yeah, the obvious reaction was, "but THOSE people don't use Facebook and Twitter." Well I am here to tell you that the Class of '67 at Shaker Heights HS is having tons of fun reconnecting without the constraints of "who was popular" or "did we go to the same country club?" We are just having fun reconnecting and talking about jobs, grandchildren, aging parents and the like.

So obviously, if you're reading this, you're with the program. But make sure that those around you realize how important it is to be connected -- both emotionally and technologically. Hey, if my 94 year old Mother In Law can do it, anyone can!