Elderly relatives who seem anything but
Discussion
Prompted by my mum. She's 86. She told me last night she needed a new laptop as hers was out of date now but a wifi booster might help in the meantime.
She also has an iphone and uses WhatsaApp video calling to chat with her friend in NZ. She's got rid of her old phone and now has the latest iPhone and regularly sends us stuff on that plus is in a number of WhatsApp groups as well as local FB groups.
I was talking to her about a song by Niall Horan recently. She said, 'Oh, he's from One Direction'. I said 'Is he?' She knows more about current 'pop' music than me at times! She also books theatre, cinema and event tickets online regularly.
Her friends 'kids' (in their 50s+) can't get their head around all the stuff she does! Their parents are 'normal' oldies.
I am sure my mum isn't the only one...
She also has an iphone and uses WhatsaApp video calling to chat with her friend in NZ. She's got rid of her old phone and now has the latest iPhone and regularly sends us stuff on that plus is in a number of WhatsApp groups as well as local FB groups.
I was talking to her about a song by Niall Horan recently. She said, 'Oh, he's from One Direction'. I said 'Is he?' She knows more about current 'pop' music than me at times! She also books theatre, cinema and event tickets online regularly.
Her friends 'kids' (in their 50s+) can't get their head around all the stuff she does! Their parents are 'normal' oldies.
I am sure my mum isn't the only one...
Mentally I would put my Dad in that bracket (he's 76). Happy to watch sport on one channel on sky whilst watching a different sport on his IPAD. Just bought a new laptop and upgraded his smartphone. Happy to do online banking etc.
Music wise, maybe not totally up to date but a big fan of the Kaiser Chiefs, Arctic Monkeys, Kings of Leon etc. Visits cinema and theatre regularly with my sister
They've just had the bathroom converted to a wet room and he had a bluetooth mirror installed so that he can listen to music whilst using the facilities
Unfortunately his physical health is the polar opposite
Mum, on the other hand, is a complete technophobe!
Music wise, maybe not totally up to date but a big fan of the Kaiser Chiefs, Arctic Monkeys, Kings of Leon etc. Visits cinema and theatre regularly with my sister
They've just had the bathroom converted to a wet room and he had a bluetooth mirror installed so that he can listen to music whilst using the facilities
Unfortunately his physical health is the polar opposite
Mum, on the other hand, is a complete technophobe!
My Dad is 86, has a smartphone, uses all the apps such as Whatsapp, WeChat, SnapChat, Facebook and Instagram to contact his friends. Even I don't use Snap or Instgram. Add to tablets and laptops etc.
He holds a weekly 1 hour class at the charity he helps at to help his peers get on board with tech.
He holds a weekly 1 hour class at the charity he helps at to help his peers get on board with tech.
Both my now deceased parents were completely relaxed with technology and it was over a decade ago when they died within one year of each other which apparently is not uncommon. They were mid/late 80s.
They were both pretty active all through their lives and their last trip down through France to Spain in their Motorhome which the'd bought just a few years before was when Dad was 81. Previously they had caravanned for 50 odd years. They always loaded up with wine direct from vineyards in France on the trip home. Usually 3 times a year.
It is attitude that counts and age is just a number. It is largely a case of keeping mentally and physically active. I'm not far off 70 and try to follow their example.
They were both pretty active all through their lives and their last trip down through France to Spain in their Motorhome which the'd bought just a few years before was when Dad was 81. Previously they had caravanned for 50 odd years. They always loaded up with wine direct from vineyards in France on the trip home. Usually 3 times a year.
It is attitude that counts and age is just a number. It is largely a case of keeping mentally and physically active. I'm not far off 70 and try to follow their example.
Frimley111R said:
Prompted by my mum. She's 86. She told me last night she needed a new laptop as hers was out of date now but a wifi booster might help in the meantime.
She also has an iphone and uses WhatsaApp video calling to chat with her friend in NZ. She's got rid of her old phone and now has the latest iPhone and regularly sends us stuff on that plus is in a number of WhatsApp groups as well as local FB groups.
I was talking to her about a song by Niall Horan recently. She said, 'Oh, he's from One Direction'. I said 'Is he?' She knows more about current 'pop' music than me at times! She also books theatre, cinema and event tickets online regularly.
Her friends 'kids' (in their 50s+) can't get their head around all the stuff she does! Their parents are 'normal' oldies.
I am sure my mum isn't the only one...
My mum is like this. She said to me years ago, "...don't let me get left behind..." when it comes to tech etc. Sometimes I have to give her a nudge to adopt new things (she's only just realised how convenient and secure Google Wallet is!) and when she resists I just remind her that if she doesn't adapt she'll be being 'left behind'. It's her call of course but I'm only doing what she asked me to!She also has an iphone and uses WhatsaApp video calling to chat with her friend in NZ. She's got rid of her old phone and now has the latest iPhone and regularly sends us stuff on that plus is in a number of WhatsApp groups as well as local FB groups.
I was talking to her about a song by Niall Horan recently. She said, 'Oh, he's from One Direction'. I said 'Is he?' She knows more about current 'pop' music than me at times! She also books theatre, cinema and event tickets online regularly.
Her friends 'kids' (in their 50s+) can't get their head around all the stuff she does! Their parents are 'normal' oldies.
I am sure my mum isn't the only one...
Edited by Funk on Friday 13th October 14:13
Spare tyre said:
Timothy Bucktu said:
My Mum is 84 and a complete technophobe, but walks miles and is physically very fit.
My father-in-law, 79, is the opposite...physically very unfit, but very techie minded.
But which ones better? There’s only one way to find out My father-in-law, 79, is the opposite...physically very unfit, but very techie minded.
With phones..
Hol said:
Spare tyre said:
Timothy Bucktu said:
My Mum is 84 and a complete technophobe, but walks miles and is physically very fit.
My father-in-law, 79, is the opposite...physically very unfit, but very techie minded.
But which ones better? There’s only one way to find out My father-in-law, 79, is the opposite...physically very unfit, but very techie minded.
With phones..
My wife's mother was well into her 90's when she died - but she was as sharp as a tack until she took her last breath. She was extremely active (despite bi-lateral knee replacement), curious, challenging and adventurous.
She would solo-visit us here in the US at least once a year and was always keen to explore new experiences, see new sights, drink new cocktails, meet new people.
She was a bloody inspiration! A lover of life, always up for a spirited argument - though always fair and good-natured. Just a fantastic, interesting and joyful old lady. I really loved my MiL.
She would solo-visit us here in the US at least once a year and was always keen to explore new experiences, see new sights, drink new cocktails, meet new people.
She was a bloody inspiration! A lover of life, always up for a spirited argument - though always fair and good-natured. Just a fantastic, interesting and joyful old lady. I really loved my MiL.
Frimley111R said:
Prompted by my mum. She's 86. She told me last night she needed a new laptop as hers was out of date now but a wifi booster might help in the meantime.
She also has an iphone and uses WhatsaApp video calling to chat with her friend in NZ. She's got rid of her old phone and now has the latest iPhone and regularly sends us stuff on that plus is in a number of WhatsApp groups as well as local FB groups.
I was talking to her about a song by Niall Horan recently. She said, 'Oh, he's from One Direction'. I said 'Is he?' She knows more about current 'pop' music than me at times! She also books theatre, cinema and event tickets online regularly.
Her friends 'kids' (in their 50s+) can't get their head around all the stuff she does! Their parents are 'normal' oldies.
I am sure my mum isn't the only one...
That's amazing. Sadly, my mum's the opposite (late 70s). She panics if you hand her a phone without buttons.She also has an iphone and uses WhatsaApp video calling to chat with her friend in NZ. She's got rid of her old phone and now has the latest iPhone and regularly sends us stuff on that plus is in a number of WhatsApp groups as well as local FB groups.
I was talking to her about a song by Niall Horan recently. She said, 'Oh, he's from One Direction'. I said 'Is he?' She knows more about current 'pop' music than me at times! She also books theatre, cinema and event tickets online regularly.
Her friends 'kids' (in their 50s+) can't get their head around all the stuff she does! Their parents are 'normal' oldies.
I am sure my mum isn't the only one...
My Mum will be 91 on Monday. We've always joked that she'd not die of natural cause but we'll find her at the bottom of the ladders having been cleaning the soffits of her house.
She's technically literate - face time, emails and internet.... but won't buy anything online.
This shouldn't really be a surprise. She was using email and the internet before she retired. I think we assume older people were always old but they were younger when a lot of the stuff that's about today was about then - just not as good.
She's technically literate - face time, emails and internet.... but won't buy anything online.
This shouldn't really be a surprise. She was using email and the internet before she retired. I think we assume older people were always old but they were younger when a lot of the stuff that's about today was about then - just not as good.
I was lucky that both my mum's parents were young minded into their later years. My granddad died at 85 but up until his late 70s age didn't seem to be a thing that affected him at all. Can't say they were modern in terms of tech but just their attitude and willingness to go and do stuff certainly wasn't an indicator of their age.
Ironically my mum is 69 now and although she uses Whatsapp and an iPad, she always manages to mangle using them! haha
Ironically my mum is 69 now and although she uses Whatsapp and an iPad, she always manages to mangle using them! haha
Voldemort said:
That must be fabulous! My mother-in-law is befuddled by the toaster. She hasn't lost her marbles but has always been one of life's luddites.
My M-i-L (God rest her soul) was the only person that I ever met who found a push-button telephone harder to use than a rotary dial. She was a bit like Tony Soprano's mother - totally negative in everything.
Matt Harper said:
My wife's mother was well into her 90's when she died - but she was as sharp as a tack until she took her last breath. She was extremely active (despite bi-lateral knee replacement), curious, challenging and adventurous.
She would solo-visit us here in the US at least once a year and was always keen to explore new experiences, see new sights, drink new cocktails, meet new people.
She was a bloody inspiration! A lover of life, always up for a spirited argument - though always fair and good-natured. Just a fantastic, interesting and joyful old lady. I really loved my MiL.
Nice to read that. I always admire positive people who make the most of life.She would solo-visit us here in the US at least once a year and was always keen to explore new experiences, see new sights, drink new cocktails, meet new people.
She was a bloody inspiration! A lover of life, always up for a spirited argument - though always fair and good-natured. Just a fantastic, interesting and joyful old lady. I really loved my MiL.
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