Older Adults Flocking to Gulfport Senior Center to Learn Computers

“I want to learn how to use a computer because I feel almost ‘ancient’ these days not knowing how.  I tried once before to learn taking a computer class, but this time I am really trying.  At some point I do want to buy a computer, so this time I am really sticking with it in this class.”  -- Marian Bull, 87, Beginner’s Computer Class Student

According to media research giant The Nielsen Company, the number of seniors taking to the Internet increased by more than 55 percent between 2004 and 2009.  In addition, the average amount of time seniors spent online increased by more than 10 percent – to an average of more than 58 hours a month, or two hours a day.  Furthermore, the study showed that seniors are engaged in many types of activities on the computer – from e-mail and photo sharing to social networking and checking the latest news and weather to searching for information related to health, financial concerns and travel. 

Given such statistics, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that at the Gulfport Multipurpose Senior Center, 5501 27^th Avenue S., one of its most popular programs are its computer classes.  In fact, the classes are so full, there is a continuous waiting list.

The center offers three types of classes: Beginner’s, Intermediate and Advanced.  All are 12 weeks in length.  The Beginner’s course focuses on keyboarding, mousing, introduction to the laptop and some introductory lessons with e-mail and maintenance.  In the Intermediate course students are taught in greater detail how to use e-mail, the Internet and do word processing.  In the Advanced class, student learns advanced skills with e-mail, the Internet and Skype, as well as how to use digital cameras and specialty software programs for making signs, cards and flyers. 

Beyond the huge demand for these courses, what certainly further attracts seniors to these classes is the fact they are absolutely free.  And you don’t even have to own or have access to a computer. Thanks to funding by the Gulfport Multipurpose Senior Center Foundation the center has laptop computers on site for students to use in classes.

Students also seem to like the volunteer instructors – one being Henry Grierson, who teaches on Wednesdays. Henry is the owner of Senior Helpers – a home companion services company serving the Tampa Bay area – which focuses on providing in-home care to the elderly.  Beyond the business, Henry has long had an interest in computers and thought he would pass on some of that knowledge to seniors who wanted to know how to use them.  His endeavor started slowly but over time began to grow – from just a couple of seniors he assisted to forming small classes of three to five older people with specific needs.

Then he approached Susan Frank, director of the Gulfport Multipurpose Senior Center, about the concept of helping make computers useful to seniors in the community through on-site classes.  The director jumped at the idea, and Henry began teaching courses. Seniors have been coming to the center for his classes in greater numbers ever since. 

Ann Kenny, 64, has known how to use a computer for years, but her husband, Michael, hasn’t.  She goes along with her husband to the Beginner’s class for morale support, but leaves much of the teaching up to the instructor.  “Henry has tremendous patience with students.  He is a great instructor for those who are seniors and have an interest in learning about computers.”

Computer classes are offered on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. and on Wednesdays at noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.  Registration is required because class sizes are small.  For more information please call Susan at (727) 893-2237 or Cynthia at (727) 893-1231.