Intro to Old People 101

The Phone:
It doesn't matter how old your favorite Senior is, they grew up with a phone.  The phone was invented in 1870.  If they were alive before then, it would make them 142 years old.  I know they seem that old, but it is physically impossible.  Now there is a strong possibility that they did not grow up with one inside their home.  But as they grew older they went from rotary to push button and kept up with the advancements.  You can give them credit for understanding the technology, just don't push what you want, on them.

Cell phones are a regular part of our lives and have become more and more affordable.  Be very careful when purchasing an Oldie a cell phone.  Know your target audience.  If you get them a smart phone, it would be smarter than it's operator.  This is what happens, you buy a cell phone for your Senior, then someone like me has to spend countless hours explaining the phones basic functions.  This is the best case scenario.  The other side of that coin, you purchase it, then have to take time off from your job to show them how to make each and every call, from now until they die.

The answering machine is just as bad, if not worse.  You have a civic duty to help an Oldie set up the machine.  They should not be able to make the purchase with out recording the out going message, before they leave.  When you call and Oldie, this is what you hear: "you didn't do it right, your supposed to press that button.  Where is the book, it says in the...beeeeep".

Here is the interesting part.  They cannot figure out how to record the out going message, but they have no problem listening to the messages.  Just be forewarned, when calling an Oldie, you need to follow the correct procedure.  When calling an Oldie, make sure to talk loud, clearly and slow.  You also want to present the information in a clear manner.  State your name, your number, your message, your name, your number, then your name again.  It may sound like overkill, but you have to understand that when they are listening to your message, they are talking to the answering machine at the same time.  The only part that they will be able to hear is the last time you state your name and number.

Class Dismissed