Seniors and Social Media
An article in May about the death of the self-proclaimed "oldest blogger" Spanish blogger Maria Amelia Lopez prompted an interesting discussion. This "Web-sensation" had developed a following of 1.7 million people throughout the course of her 880 posts - that's a lot of people! Lopez swore that blogging changed her life and she recommended that all elderly do it.
Socializing is so important as we grow older and maintaining the connections we once had may become more and more difficult with time. Social media/networking/computing is a collection of technology based tools that facilitate conversations, networking, and collaboration between participants in a generally Web-based environment. These tools give us the ability to publish our ideas, communicate interesting content we run across, or create. It lets us form communities of interest, or join communities that interest us.
Forms of social media, including blogging, have changed the way people communicate and this is one great example, as it carries the potential to keep the elderly and people with debilitating disabilities connected and engaged. Blogging can also be a great way to share your thoughts and feelings, solicit feedback from a captive audience, make new friends and keep in touch with loved ones who may live far away. Blogging can stimulate brain activity, boost your mood and relieve stress, all of which can make a significant impact on people with dementia, Alzheimer's, depression and other conditions.
It's a brave, new world - how many of your are utilizing social media? How do you incorporate it into your daily life? Share your stories!