New Westminster seniors are discovering a whole new world through Facebook.
Marg McKee, a volunteer at Century House, has reconnected to people from various parts of her life since joining Facebook in the summer of 2012.
“I was in Nova Scotia. My nephew’s wife suggested I get on Facebook so I could keep up with them. She set me up with an account,” she said. “It’s a good way to keep in touch with family all over the world. We have family in Australia, Boston, all over.”
In the past year, McKee has learned to post and tag photos on Facebook.
“I am really in the learning stage of it, but I enjoy it,” she said. “I think it’s great. I also belong to a couple of other organizations that I am interested in. If you have them on Facebook as your favourites, you get the latest information.”
In addition to keeping in touch with family, McKee has been able to reconnect with old friends through Facebook, including some friends from her nursing days in Halifax. McKee also “likes” some of her favourite organizations and promotes groups like the Century House Association by sharing their posts.
“I have them as some of my favourites,” she said. “It gets shared with a lot of people.”
Margo Prentice is a tech-savvy senior who keeps in touch with family and friends, people she meets on her travels and people from church on Facebook.
“It has made my world so much larger,” she said. “I keep in touch with people. I have contacted people all over – including my old next-door neighbour from 30 years ago.”
Prentice and McKee are not alone, as statistics suggest seniors are the fastest growing demographic on Facebook.
Prentice still enjoys chatting on the telephone but finds Facebook more helpful when trying to communicate with younger folks – including her granddaughters. She also finds Facebook is a good way of keeping in contact with people she may not normally call on the telephone.
“It’s a wonderful way to expand your friendships and connections,” she said. “Those Facebook friends over the years are close.”
This weekend’s Seniors Festival will feature a workshop aimed at helping seniors get familiar with Facebook. The Facebook Lab, which is being held on Saturday, Oct. 5 from 11 a.m. to noon, will give seniors a chance to ask an expert for tips and tricks on Facebook.
While Facebook may be intimidating to some seniors, Prentice encourages them to give it a shot.
“I think your life will not be as lonely,” she said. “You can communicate with your children and grandchildren.”
