Having spent the last few months staying close to my partner in life to assist her in getting to doctors’ appointments and work after an operation that didn’t go perfectly, I have found the internet to be a good friend. Putting other things on the back burner, the internet has enabled me to keep in touch with family, friends, and a world of information.

Reasons why the internet can be a huge positive in our lives:

1. Keep in touch with family and friends

2. Connection to the outside world

3. Get help: recipes,, answers to questions on senior issues (i.e., medical information, social security, medicare, food stamps, senior citizen property tax break, coupons, contests, etc.)

4. Connect with websites and blogs, see links below, that address senior and grandparenting issues

6. Find services you can trust for home repair, auto repair, etc.

7. Connect with others with similar hobbies, similar interests

8. Good at something you can do at home for pay? Advertise, network

9. Shop at home (purchase a prepaid Walmart or other proven credit card, safer to use on the internet), for home delivery

10. As a senior, are you invisible? Do people look through you, not listen? You have a lot of experience and downright wisdom! Give your opinion, and see others opinions (favorites:

A. Huffington Post, you can be notified of posts by favorite HP bloggers online, track your comments and others comments on news or blog posts), www.huffingtonpost.com;

B. www.grandparents.about.com;

C. (added 9/30/12) http://www.brenebrown.com/downloads-badges (Brene Brown’s Manifesto is an articulate approach to parenting and can be useful for grandparents, too!)

Please don’t be afraid to ask the young uns for help! And check out computers for seniors, too–large print, easy to use.