For Immediate Release Contact: Collin Nash or Sid Nathan
April 12, 2011 (516) 869-7794
North Hempstead’s “Aging in Place” Program Conducts Basic Computer Primer for Seniors
Roslyn, NY—Since Supervisor Jon Kaiman and the Town Board unveiled Project Independence in 2005, North Hempstead’s groundbreaking “aging in place” program has been garnering rave reviews, the latest being the results of a Hofstra University survey of users of the medical transportation program.
Now, quicker than you can click a mouse, Project Independence is making the rounds in cyber space as seniors across North Hempstead log on to bone up on basic computing skills.
Partnering with Education and Assistance Corp Inc., a non-profit human services agency, Project Independence conducted its first basic computing class for seniors last week at the Roslyn Headquarters of the Department of Services for the Aging (DOSA)
“In today’s high tech world, every one, particularly our seniors—who often are separated from loved ones or who could benefit from access to the internet where invaluable information pertaining to their well being can be found—should have basic computer skills,” said Supervisor Kaiman.
Eyes glued to their monitors and a mouse in their palms, five seniors seated at computers in the lower level of the DOSA headquarters listened intently as two instructors walked them through the process of cutting and pasting.
“This is a basic but very important procedure you should know,” Harold Knapp of New Hyde Park, a volunteer senior trainer with EAC told his students. “The computer is a machine and you have to tell it what to do step by step.”
Edward Greenfield, 78, of East Hills, said his failed attempts to master the steps of sending a photo to his son Michael in Utah, brought him to this, his very first computer class. He and other students said the availability of one-on-one tutoring was a big draw.
“I have a computer at home so I am familiar with some very basic computing but I want to be able to send and receive photos and e-mails and surf the internet,” Greenfield said.
The first class, an introductory, two-week session where students attend one two-hour class each week, costs $10. More advanced classes, which touch on subjects such as navigating the web, learning how to use e-mail address book and search engines, run for six sessions at two and a half hours per class and cost $45. The entire program consists of four segments.
Aileen Cox of Great Neck said she likely will enroll in more advanced classes so she can eventually interact on Facebook with her two children, one who lives in Florida and the other in Texas, as well as her 12-year-old granddaughter.
“I’m learning things that are totally new but I’m beginning to pick it up,” Cox said.
Receiver Charles Berman lends a hand at the computer training program for seniors.