Why do older people have to dislike change.

My Dad has had an iPad and a laptop as long as I can remember and used them for internet banking among other things.
He didn't get on well with a mobile phone but that was probably because he always had an ancient one that was fiddly to use.

He's 92 now and it's only this year that he's lost his confidence and stopped using them.
I've brought the iPad to my house so I can more easily carry on doing his banking for him.

I've also added his email address to my phone so I can keep an eye on this.
We realised he gets a lot of spam messages that he might be fooled by, plus he'd missed a couple of texts from his GP eg an invitation to a covid booster.

My mother-in-law is registered blind but she's really enjoying her Google Nest that my husband bought her earlier this year.
She can ask it all sorts of questions, eg the time, and listen to the radio or her favourite music. She's 95!

Some people find learning (anything!) harder than others.

I think it's that simple.

It's easy to be scathing about people not "embracing change" if you don't find it hard. What if you did find it hard?

Stop being judgmental.

Besides which, not all change is good.

Sago I can understand why the majority of ticket offices are closing but I am partially sighted, very independent and do not want to ask for help because I cannot read the machine.

I’ve always liked change. My AC often call me an ‘early adopter’ because I tend to want to have a go at stuff. For example, I was reading e-books well before Amazon’s Kindle was ever a thing.

I love using my phone to do stuff and was actually a bit flummoxed in a car park yesterday when they had no facility for contactless payment. I had to remember my PIN for my card.

Some people, though, find it difficult to learn new things. Maybe they’ve always found it hard to learn or maybe as they age there’s less plasticity in their brain to adapt to change. I don’t think we should scorn people because of that.

No need of spreadsheets or other non-paper docs.

Ooh I love my spreadsheets for my tax return accounts!
Yes it took me longer to set them up the first year I decided to use them but it works well now 🙂

Scanning is still an unsolved mystery to me though, I don't need to use it often enough for it to be worth the time to learn 🤷

I agree that we choose to use what works and makes life easier for ourselves.

One school boy I look after can't believe I've never used a playstation or played "Plants versus Zombies."
We're technology-free as far as my minded children are concerned.
Mind you they build the digital scenes out of Duplo and draw the games out on paper. Hey ho 🤣

My uncle, in his 80s, learnt to use a desktop computer and, at the same time taught himself Swedish, using the appropriate characters on the keyboard. I've kept up with innovations ever since I first acquired an Amstrad word processor. A few years ago, I was highly incensed when a sales assistant whom I asked for help, finding a dressing gown for my GS, asked me if I knew anyone who would help me to find it on line.

I really don't think it is an age thing, more a personalty thing? I have shared my life with someone who doesn't like change and unfortunately it has rubbed off on me. He has always been this way

btw this wasn't technology related. In that respect I am the one who doesn't like change and he embraces it

The trouble is "older people" seem to be views as an amorphous mass all the same. A bit like that phrase "the youth of today ....".

Individuality weighing a certain demographic group is not recognised!

This is a woman I had to set up her new TV

I am fairly good at this sort of thing but could not get Sky to work on our new smart tv. It took 10 mins to realise I needed to turn the Sky box on 😤😤

Baggs

Besides which, not all change is good.

Very true!

Madgran77

The trouble is "older people" seem to be views as an amorphous mass all the same. A bit like that phrase "the youth of today ....".

Individuality weighing a certain demographic group is not recognised!

Yes unless it is a group that you are in and then people will treat them as individuals. I often see it in the posts on here where all men are treated the same but women can be individuals.

V3ra No need of spreadsheets or other non-paper docs.

^Ooh I love my spreadsheets for my tax return accounts!
Yes it took me longer to set them up the first year I decided to use them but it works well now^

Scanning is still an unsolved mystery to me though, I don't need to use it often enough for it to be worth the time to learn

We live beyond reliable services. It's easier to keep all weekly, monthly in-comings and out-goings on paper - in a yearly dated tablet. I can access any year, whenever I need, for past data my husband requires.

I scan every single Monday (my money day) and many days between.

As you note "what works and makes life easier for ourselves".

I think that those who embrace change, and those who resist it, can both have a complementary, beneficial effect on our lives. It may sound contradictory, but consider that while there are those who welcome or promote (worthwhile) change, bringing tangible improvements to our lives, there are also those who tend to be more resistant, and in being so, may well be the defenders of certain traditions or even moral standards in our society which are worth hanging on to. The former are those whose innovation ensures that the baby is bathed more efficiently and safely, whilst the latter are those who make sure that we don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. So I believe that both have their place, and personally, I try to keep a foot in both camps.

You are stereotyping a whole generation both young and old either embrace change or not it's their personal choice.
Lots of changes are beneficial that is correct but not to everyone. We all have different needs and we use change if it will benefit us.
The change that irritates me is the use of language. How women are being referred too and undermined.

Nicely put, NanaDana.

I learn techie things when necessary, don't take delight it tho. Needs must. I don't like apps being forced on me for everything.

Is it being older that makes me want to be able to talk to a real live person about things instead of all online?

I shall have to ask the yoof in the family..

There's more to 'change' than just new technology. Sometimes it seems it's just change for change's sake or to make us buy some newly packaged version of the same old thing. Perhaps older people are wiser too and see through marketing wheezes in a way that younger people don't?

I worked in libraries before I retired. We had a number of public pcs available and very often it was the ‘younger’ generation who wanted help. They are so used to using their mobile phones that they didn’t know where to start with a pc and didn’t want to learn either.

I don't think it is about not being bothered to learn but about learning something that you are interested in. Not everyone is interested in technology but they may want to pursue other new skills such as learning a new language, taking up painting, sewing, gardening or cooking. We are all drawn to different things in life that's what makes us fascinating as Human Beings.

I agree it's more of a personality change. We adapt where we want to adapt.

I use YouTube and many websites for learning new skills but have to be dragged kicking and screaming to set up a new phone that I will barely use. After working in IT for most of my life I have no interest in it now beyond the essentials and am veering more to my crafty side. I love changing fashions and clothes but recognize that not everyone does. I use the net for finding recipes for particular things but will still pore over my (hundreds) of cookery books to find recipes. I gave up my ruler many years ago in favour of a laser line when doing DIY, and don't think my power tools can be called old hat.

It is ok if you dont want to embrace change

What is not ok is complain that society doesnt support you - online banking, send documents online, get ecards vs paper cards, etc

With actions come consequences

I have a friend who is simply unable to do things like online shopping and online banking. I do some online shopping for her and she then has to go to a bank and deposits what its cost... her local bank has just closed so it's now a long way away! Such a hassle for her. I jokingly tell her I'm her PA. I'm no tech whizkid by any means.
I did have to go into my bank branch on Friday to sort out an issue as the person I spoke to on the phone omitted to give me a vital piece of information that was needed to do an online transfer!

i have mentioned this before on gn about my 79 year old dad, he is so scared of any tech, he has a very old phone and will never text anybody, i took my laptop the first time we met up after 30 years apart, i stayed in a hotel and wanted to show him family photos, next year i was going to be staying with him and he asked me not to bring the laptop ....he thinks it will be watching him, alexa is just something that was made to spy on people and store cards just want to know what people are eating. (big shock when i explained about how stores know what they are selling because of food being scanned at the till). sometimes he looks sad when i have talked about books on my kindle or old music on youtube, i think he now realises he has missed out on so much, or maybe the wacky baccy has a lot to do with it.

Hithere

It is ok if you dont want to embrace change

What is not ok is complain that society doesnt support you - online banking, send documents online, get ecards vs paper cards, etc

With actions come consequences

Yes, this!

A friend of mine, her mom refuses to learn how to shop online. Which is absolutely her choice, BUT, she demands my friend fill in the gaps for her. As in, drive an hour to her mom, and order from her computer, because Mom won’t do it herself, and also won’t give her daughter banking details so it HAS to happen at her home. And gets incredibly upset if that doesn’t happen ASAP. Her mom uses the computer perfectly well in all other aspects, but apparently buying things is too hard.