Technology

Really? Cell phones can be dangerous? Until I dropped a pitchfork and punctured my foot while talking on my cell phone in a chicken coop, I wouldn't have believed it. But it's that sort of multitasking that can result in a trip to the med center. Read more about good cell phone habits. ...

Nothing is more valuable than the gift of tutelage. Spending time to explain the features and functions while showing older adults how to use the gadget you give is good for everyone. Trust me on this. I’ve heard more than once about well-meaning givers’ gifts that were never opened because the recipient didn’t know what to do with them. ...

 

Time is one of our most valuable commodities. That’s why at Social Security, we are constantly improving our online resources to make doing business with us easier and faster.

With a My Social Security account, those receiving benefits can change their address and direct deposit information; get proof of their benefits; and request replacement documents, like a Medicare card. If you aren’t currently getting benefits, you can check your earnings record, get estimates of your future benefits, and view your Social Security Statement. In many states, you can even request a replacement Social Security card online. See everything you can do with a My Social Security account and open one today and at socialsecurity.gov.

You don’t need a My Social Security account to:

Select or change the way you receive information from Social Security if you are blind or visually impaired at socialsecurity.gov/people/blind.

Block electronic and automated telephone access to your personal information at socialsecurity.gov/blockaccess. 

Apply for extra help with your Medicare prescription drug plan costs at socialsecurity.gov/extrahelp.

Be sure to share my Social Security with friends and family. By freeing up their time, they may plan on spending more of their valuable time with the people they love.   

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Feeling comfortable with technology is no different than the many skills older adults have mastered throughout their lives. And for those who reject technology because they want to “stay off the grid,” we've got news for you: you're already on it, regardless of how little you think you're using technology. ...

Find out how technology is more friend than foe. Come to the Geauga Senior Technology Expo that Boomer is co-presenting with Ohman Family Living and other reputable sponsors.

From smartphones to smart speakers, discover how simple hardware, apps and other internet-based services can simplify your life and streamline your everyday activities.

It’s FREE! August 1, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at West Geauga Senior Center, 12650 West Geauga Plaza in Chesterland. RSVP at (440) 729-2782.

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Although we get instant gratification from current communication methods like texting and instant messaging, some Boomers and older adults may actually yearn for those days when letter writing offered a dash of romanticism. Remember waiting for the mailman to arrive to see if he had a letter for you? ...

Do you remember where you were when we landed on the moon? Like other historic milestones, the moon landing is etched in our memories - at least for those of us old enough to remember that hot summer night in Northeast Ohio. There's probably not a better place around to mark the event than at the Great Lakes Science Center with a real-life astronaut and scientists from the NASA Glenn Research Center. ...

Chromebooks, which look like a laptop, and Chromeboxes, which resemble desktop computers, may be appropriate options for many who use a computer mostly for email and web surfing. Misconceptions regarding Chromebooks are rampant due to their widespread use in schools, but they’ve evolved nicely for personal and professional use and are budget friendly. ...