As society moves away from handwritten and verbal communication towards emailing, texting, and social media, many seniors like Richmond grandmothers, Ozra and Zohreh, are left behind. In a digitally connected world, the elderly are often left out leaving them isolated and alone.
When Ozra met friends, she wasn’t able to share photos of her family, which left her embarrassed, while Zohreh had no communication with her family in Iran and her granddaughter in Germany. Thanks to the United Way-funded Surfing Grannies, a computer and social media literacy program for seniors 55+ at Richmond Multicultural Community Services, that’s all changed.
“I learned to use Yahoo, Facebook and making [sic] a Happy Birthday card to my grandkids,” Ozra says. Now she’s not only in touch with her children and grandchildren but her overseas friends too. “I am busy and not alone anymore.”
United Way funding supports 360 seniors living in the Richmond City Centre community, helping them live active, engaged and independent lives.
Learn more about our work with seniors.
Topics : Building strong communities
