Senior citizens and the world of computers

It is assumed here that if a senior citizen is reading this article, then the senior citizen has computer access.  Even with access, many senior citizens are loathe to use a computer because of vision problems.  Vision problems which are easily corrected now-a-days.

There are magnifying plate glasses which can be placed over a monitor to enlarge screen images.

Perhaps the best solution to the vision problem is buy a larger computer monitor.  The prices of flat screen computer monitors have dropped drastically, and a large monitor can be purchased for $150.  During sale periods, they may go for less than $100.

In this digital age, computer monitors are nothing more than televisions without the channel tuning mechanisms.  Vice versa, many modern digital televisions have a port for input from a computer.  The connectors for data and sound can be purchased at any electronics store.  It should also be noted here, that notebook computers have ports for external monitors.

Now, do you need any better reason for buying that 40" flat screen television?

The Senior Citizen and Surveys

You have heard the hype, got it in your SPAM box, in your inbox, and probably even got it from your internet service provider, or email provider.

"Make money taking surveys".

"Work at home taking surveys".

"We want your vote".

"We want your opinion".

Sounds like an ideal job for a Senior Citizen.

Can you really make money?

From those emails that are in your SPAM box you can expect to enter your creditcard number, and then bend over.  The best that you can expect from these is a list of authentic survey companies.

From your internet service, or email provider, your name will be entered into a drawing for a monetary prize.  Many of the surveys are concerning new products, and for those products that you express an interest in, you can expect to receive coupons in the mail.  Many of the surveys are for services concerning such as house remodeling, window replacement, permanent siding.  From the firms that are involved in these services, you can expect telephone calls from "Hard Sell" salesmen.

There are legitimate firms which do pay for taking surveys.  They represent legitimate clients which are interested in polls concerning a variety of products, services, and information.  The problem is the pay itself.  Tenth of a cent for an email survey.  A nickel for an extended online survey.  And the survey companies normally have a high limit of fifty or one hundred dollars before they pay your accumulated earnings.

So you can make money taking surveys.  Just don't expect a lot.  Perhaps you are interested.  Where can you find these legitimate companies?  Search on line.  Remember that if you are required to pay a fee, the firm  is not legitimate.

The Senior Citizen and Age Discrimination in Hiring.

Senior Citizens retire, go out and see the world, do all of the things that they could not do when they were working, and then find that something seems to be missing.  There is no sense of satisfaction, no challenge in life.  They have accomplished in life what they wanted.


Depending upon your point of view, our daily rat race will either make an old person of you, or will keep you young.


The adrenaline starts flowing when the alarm goes off in the morning.  Up, shower, shave, brush your teeth, chug-a-lug a cup of coffee, and maybe gulp down a piece of toast.


Fire up the car with a roar, and go heading down the road.  Pedal to the metal, join the other drivers on the race course.  OOPS!  I meant the expressway.  Watch the mirrors to stay ahead of the other drivers.  Watch ahead for policecars.  Watch the traffic for that timid driver that left a little bit of extra space in front that you can slide in at the last minute to make the exit ramp.  It takes a big motor, bigger brakes, cobra-like reflexes, and nerves of steel to make this trip safely.

Even the charioteers of ancient Rome experienced no greater excitement than can be found in our daily commute.


At the office, shoehorn the car between two badly parked cars.  Nobody parks straight anymore.


In the office, start computer, faxes, printers, or any other equipment necessary for the day.  Start the low priority jobs that were left over from the previous day.  Decode memos, email, notes from the boss concerning the day's work.  Half instructions.  Half explanations.  Misspelled words.  Poor grammar.  Get together with your coworkers and figure out how to get yourselves out of the mess that the boss has gotten you in now.

At lunch, wolf down a quick sandwich.  There is always some shopping that HAS to be done.  Back to the office.

More memos, notes, telephone calls, and voicemail messages.  But it is so exhilarating when the last shipment goes out, last page is printed, last matter is settled, just at the stroke of quitting time!

Start the car, again with a roar, and head home.  It is amazing how the trip home takes even less time than the trip to work.

At home, have a bite to eat.  Set down in the easy chair and unwind watching television for a couple of hours.

Set the alarm, and go to bed.  Ready to do it again the next morning.

You can call it work.  You can call it a rut.  You can call it a rat race.  But there is no greater sense of satisfaction than going to sleep at night knowing that you met and conquered all challenges and problems encountered during he day.

And the loose ends?  There is always tomorrow.  After all, what are they going to do?  Fire you?  You will have a satisfactory job before can they find a satisfactory replacement!

What does this have to do with the Senior Citizen re-entering the work force?  Meeting challenges.  Companionship.  Sense of satisfaction.

What does this have to do with discrimination in hiring?  You will find out when you apply in HR.  Averted eyes.  Non-committal answers.  "Hmm".  "We will have to consider.".  Meaning that they want a man half of the age of the Senior Citizen, and half the pay.

The Senior Citizen has all the assets that an employer looks for in an employee.  Stable work history.  Education.  Experience.  Common sense.  Solid decision making ability.  All the qualities that it should take to get on the short list for employment.

Why, then, is the application of the Senior Citizen ignored?  That is the discrimination that takes place.  Fear as much as anything.  Fear of turning that white maned lion loose among a flock of sheep.  Any organization wants to maintain status quo in so far as their internal politics go.  Any person that a boss hires is expected to fit in a certain niche and follow orders unerringly.

All of those good qualities that a Senior Citizen possesses are danger signals to a boss.  Stable work history indicates that the Senior Citizen is a veteran of workplace politics.  Education, experience, solid judgment, indicates that the Senior Citizen might be able to take over that niche, which is not what the Senior Citizen was hired for.  The Senior Citizen might even represent a danger to the boss's position.

How does the Senior Citizen negate these problems?  Apply for a lower position than you would normally hold.  Downplay the titles of positions previously held.  On the application, only list that education and experience that is necessary to secure the position you are applying for.

One of the most important things is:  Act Dumb!  Only show the intelligence and experience that is necessary to secure the position that you are applying for.  You have to make the HR personnel and all interviewers believe that you will be a good fit with their employees.  All new personnel in an organization are expected to start at the bottom rung of the corporate ladder.  And that includes you, the Senior Citizen.

Good Luck!

When does a Senior Citizen become a “Senior Citizen”?

65?  60?  55?  50?  The answer is, it varies by where you are and who you are talking to.  Some places consider that any person fifty years of age or older is a Senior Citizen.  It could best be summed up by a restaurateur who said that if a person is nervy enough to ask for a Senior Citizen discount, Give it to him!

It is the responsibility of the Senior Citizen to ask for the discount.  Most establishments are considering their bottom line and will not offer a discount unless asked.  Restaurants are an exception to this and if you look old enough to be a Senior Citizen, many will routinely apply the discount without being asked. 

Senior Citizens should routinely ask for the discount when making purchases.  If you are told that no discount is offered, please make the purchase.  But make a note of the price, and the next time shop at a competitor, compare prices and ask before purchasing if there is a Senior Citizen discount.  Be prepared to walk out of the store.  In many cases, stores without a discount have better prices than those with discounts.

At present, there are over a hundred million Senior Citizens in America and this amount is growing every year.  Many firms realize this and have changed their marketing techniques to attract Senior Citizens.

Many firms still think of Senior Citizens as being Grandpa and Grandma on fixed income with no money for purchases.  The smart firms realize that Grandpa and Grandma on fixed income still have more disposable income than that young couple with a house payment, one or two car payments, credit card debt, and a couple, three children to raise.

So, if you are fifty years or older, don’t be afraid to ask for that “Senior Citizen” discount.  You are eligible for it unless told otherwise.

Senior-Sizing a Home

Senior-Sizing a Home

What is meant by Senior-Sizing?

In a nutshell, Senior-Sizing means converting and repairing a home to where it is low maintenance and safe for occupancy by a senior citizen.

According to the Association for Advancement of Retired People (AARP), 89% of people 50 years and over wish to remain in their own homes indefinitely.

Some conversions and repairs that Senior citizens should consider:


Exterior Items:


Install permanent siding - Steel or plastic siding which requires no painting.

Install gutters with leaf caps.

Cut down, top, or cut back any large trees.

Remove or cutback any shrubbery that is near the walkways.

Mend or replace any fencing.

Install simple drop latches on gates.

Consider a professional lawn service for mowing the lawn.  In addition to mowing grass, many lawn services offer snow removal during the winter.

Inspect and repair/replace any wooden decks.  Particularly the undersides of the decks.  Decks with concealed undersides receive no maintenance there, and often have hidden defects such as cracked boards, dryrot, and termite damage.

Inspect any entrance stoop.  Repair any broken cracked stairs.  Ensure handrails are solid.  Install non-skid surface where possible.

Install garage door opener.

Replace entrance door knobs with a lever type of handle which can be easily gripped.

Install motion detection sensors on all external lights and in the garage.


Interior Items:


Eliminate clutter - Any item which is not being used on a regular basis should be placed in storage, a back room, basement anywhere out of the way.  This includes cabinets, tables and chairs, pots and pans, dishes.  Ample walk room should be allowed.  Nothing should be stacked in such a manner that it might fall.

Convert all ceiling lights to wall lighting, or to chandelier drop type of lighting.  The bulbs should be changeable by going no higher than the second step of a low step ladder.  Many hardware stores also sell a mechanism with an extended handle by which bulbs may be replaced while standing on the floor.  Ensure that all rooms are well lit.

In the kitchen, make sure floor surface is non-skid.   Many kitchen floor surfaces are non-skid when they are dry, but become very slippery when water or grease is dropped on them.  Replace if necessary.

Also in the kitchen, replace the two handled sink faucet with a single handle fixture.

Although it is expensive, there is a range hood sold which contains an automatic fire suppressant system.  This should be considered as a matter of safety.

Convert knob type kitchen cabinet and drawer openers to lever type handles for easier gripping.

Check department stores and hardware stores for slide out type of inserts to make the interiors of kitchen cabinets easily accessible.

Clear clutter off the top of counters to make clear access to items such as coffeepots, toasters, etc.

In the bathroom, replace faucets with single handled lever fixtures.

Install handrails on shower/tub walls and at the commode.

In the rest of the house, remove any small area rugs or throw rugs.  Remove tripping hazards.

Install handrails in hallways.

Insure that stairwells have handrails on both side of the steps.

Buy a cellphone or a battery charged portable telephone that the senior citizen can carry through the house.


The above is not an all encompassing list.  It is rather a guide.  Inspect the whole house for safety and ease of access.

Do senior citizens need a will?

If a senior citizen has multiple children by multiple wives or a large estate, then the answer is yes. For these circumstances a formal will is an absolute must.

In the case of smaller estates. Smaller estate being house, smaller amounts in checking, savings, retirement accounts. Most states recognize the rights of the surviving spouse to the estate. Even so, accounts may be frozen, and transfer delayed while the estate is being probated in court.

A simple letter written, signed, and dated by you, the senior citizen, leaving everything to your spouse is better than nothing.

Even better if the letter is notarized by a public official.

Even better, there are offices which specialize in legal forms. No legal advice may be given there. Fill out the forms and have them notarized.

Even better, look in the phone book and newspaper. There are lawyers which will draw up wills for simple estates for real reaonable prices.

Remember that the will is not for you, the senior citizen. You will be gone! The purpose of the will is to protect the surviving spouse.

Remember also that each spouse should have a will drawn.