EDMONTON, Alberta, March 20 (UPI) -- More seniors are using the Internet to stay in contact with friends and look up health information, but a Canadian study found many find it perplexing.
Researchers at the University of Alberta discovered older adults feel less confident about their computer knowledge than younger adults. Seniors are also more concerned about how memory issues may impact their ability to use the Internet.
Seniors can also experience problems with vision and hearing, as well as a decrease in motor skills due to arthritis and tremors, according to study leader Dr. Patricia Boechler of the University of Alberta.
To make computer and Internet use easier for older adults, researchers recommend simple computer adaptations, such as increasing font sizes to accommodate vision problems, setting up an option for verbal instructions at an appropriate volume with minimal noise distractions and giving demonstrations of tasks ahead of time to reduce anxiety.
