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The world of today’s seniors stretches from here to cyberspace

A lot of senior citizens must be shopping these days for ergonomic chairs and desks with enough shelves and cubbyholes to accommodate computer components. That’s one conclusion to be drawn from a survey conducted in late 1999 among nearly ten thousand American Express customers who carry the company’s Senior Member Card.

• Nearly 63 percent of the respondents said they had a computer at home.
• More than half report using their machines’ online capabilities.
• Although only 39 percent of those surveyed consider themselves “tech-savvy,” they go online to shop for various products and services or to research a wide variety of subjects.
• More than 50 percent communicate with friends and family through e-mail, and 45 percent seek out interesting and stimulating Web sites.
• Plus, about 10 percent of the sample use computers to conduct their own businesses.

Some destinations for senior Web surfers

American Express has also established a Web site to provide all interested seniors with relevant information. In addition, Senior Cardmembers serve on an advisory board to represent seniors’ interests and concerns to the company. Three of its members shared some of their favorite Web sites in a recent issue of Horizons, a company magazine:

• Marlene Lamm Spigner of Delray Beach, Florida, who studied for her Master’s degree while rearing two daughters, and now teaches adult ed classes and travels extensively, likes www.politicalcartoons.com, – a site that lives up to the expectations its name inspires.
  
• Frank L. Visco of Latham, New York, a veteran of the ad agency world who now freelances and serves as a board member for non-profits, visits www.healthfinder.gov for information on any health-related topic; and www.worldwidewax.com, a comprehensive site on vinyl records.
  
• John J. Murphy of Woodside, New York, formerly security chief for a major retailer, now volunteers as an escort for visitors to New York City. He recommends www.foodtv.com, a source for some of the famous chefs’ recipes featured on cable TV.

Grandparenting central: For those seniors who are both mystified and charmed by the youngest members of their families, the American Express Senior Membership site offers a direct link to the very informative iGrandparents.com that has timely content, shopping ideas, an online community, and opportunities to interact with grandchildren.

Strengthening family ties: The Internet can also help seniors get together with their relatives, either by organizing an in-person gathering or by setting up a family Web site where relatives can share photos, have a private chat room and leave messages in a guest book. To explore resources that could help you create such a site, type in the words “family+Web+site+design” on your favorite search engine.

August 3, 2000

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