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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my 88-year-old granny could operate a tablet?

68 replies

Iffy2014 · 05/10/2014 07:29

It's my granny's 88th birthday this month. As I've just received a tax rebate and a bonus, I'd like to spend the extra money on a really lovely gift for her.

The idea behind a tablet: you'd never know my gran's age if you met her. She's very active, both in body and mind, and isn't one to shy away from something because, "I'm old".

She's never had a computer/any kind of very contemporary technology before. But, she is desperate to LEARN about how to use technology, i.e. she will have a go on family's smart phones/Kindles/iPads. She's seen things like Skype and Facebook, and is fascinated, because most of my cousins live far away now, and she's amazed that the rest of us can talk to them so easily using these things.

She's talked for a little while about getting herself a laptop, but I think a tablet would likely be a lot easier for her. I think she would mostly use it for social networking/Skype/reading the newspaper/shopping and watching catch-up TV.

To clarify, most of the extended family live on one street (small town), so I am very much on hand to give gran the help she will need to get started on it, and can be "on call" for any technology issues!

Personally, I think she will enjoy the fact that she is still "keeping up" with the rest of the world. What do you think? AIBU and crazy to think she could manage a tablet at her age, or should I stick with jewellery as a gift?

OP posts:
PiperIsOrange · 05/10/2014 08:13

A lovely idea.

Would she accept such an expensive gift though.

PiperIsOrange · 05/10/2014 08:13

A lovely idea.

Would she accept such an expensive gift though.

dangerrabbit · 05/10/2014 08:17

I bought my mum who's only in her 60s an iPad and the magazine iPad for seniors to go with it:

www.whsmith.co.uk/products/ipad-for-seniors-in-easy-steps-covers-ios-7-for-ipad-2-5-ipad-air-and-ipad-mini-in-easy-steps-3rd-revised-edition/9781840786101

She loves her iPad and has found the magazine very useful. She's also been showing my 92 year old great aunt the iPad and my great aunt has really enjoyed using it

Delphiniumsblue · 05/10/2014 08:22

I am in my 60s and don't know anyone of that age who isn't computer literate, or doesn't use them everyday- we are not old!!

MsJupiter · 05/10/2014 08:22

I used to teach elderly people to use computers (aged 60-95!) and several of them ended up getting iPads as they are so easy to use. One of them is now a prolific tweeter and they all use it for Skype and email.

My mum (only in her 60s) prefers her iPad mini as so portable. My DS loves using it when he sees her.

Delphiniumsblue · 05/10/2014 08:30

You are not elderly until at least 80yrs! If we are in our 60s we have been using them for years!

Delphiniumsblue · 05/10/2014 08:31

Even my mothers age group got irritated when a speaker patronisingly assumed they couldn't email etc.

JustAShopGirl · 05/10/2014 08:33

Does she have broadband? wifi? or are you going to pay for a contract?

Idontseeanysontarans · 05/10/2014 08:37

My 88 year old Grandma got her iPad before I got mine, she loves it Smile our family is a bit scattered and she can't travel too far now so it's perfect to help her keep in touch with us all.
She goes on at some length about the silver surfer type classes and the attitude that if you have grey hair you ca't use a computer! Come to think of it so does my Mother - she's 62 and works with computers everyday and uses a laptop and an iPad (and showed me how to do certain things on mine).
An iPad is the simplest tablet I've come across, I would avoid a Samsung tablet like the plague.

Longdistance · 05/10/2014 08:39

I want to get my mum one. She's 73, and not very up with the technology. Even phones confuse her Confused

Still think it's piss easy to use, and rightly so, my dd was 18mo when she started using my iPad.

TwinkleDust · 05/10/2014 08:44

Another vote for ipad! User friendly, but also the clarity of the screen shouldn't be underestimated for elderly eyes!

CadleCrap · 05/10/2014 08:45

My 80 yo mum has an iPad. She went on a U3A ( see if there is one in her area) course to learn how to use it and made loads of new friends as well.

Idontseeanysontarans · 05/10/2014 08:46

Longdistance weirdly my Grandma can't use her phone very well and has a tendency to do things like send a text (eventually) and turn it off to save the battery, but she found the iPad really easy to use.

Original poster
Iffy2014 · 05/10/2014 08:46

She's got access to WiFi already, so that shouldn't be a problem, as long as I can connect the tablet up to it for her. Since we all live so bunched together, they've had Internet access for a while, as my cousins are always there on their own devices (we call our street The Rabbit Warren, and gran's place is HQ!). They've just never had a computer of their own.

OP posts:
DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 05/10/2014 08:48

Long-but children's brains are wired for learning, it's much harder to learn new skills as we age.

My mum can't even use a basic Nokia phone but manages iPad I think partly because it's bigger.

Delphiniumsblue · 05/10/2014 08:50

It is the future. My mother is over 90yrs and lives in a sheltered housing complex. Every flat has free WIFi.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 05/10/2014 08:51

I know lots of people in their 60's who use computers but also an awful lot that can't/don't.

Delphiniumsblue · 05/10/2014 08:51

It is attitude- if you want to learn something you will.

Delphiniumsblue · 05/10/2014 08:53

If they are in their 60s and don't use one they are excluded from a lot. All groups, social things, volunteering are arranged by email.

HavanaSlife · 05/10/2014 08:57

My gran has just bought an ipad and a smart phone, shes a bit younger though, mid 70s. Both my grandad and gran use it.

They do drive my mum a bit batshit though, ringing her because theyve forgotten how to comment on fb pics yet again Grin

I dont see why your gran wouldnt be ok with one.

Idontseeanysontarans · 05/10/2014 09:00

My Mums pov is that most of people in their late 50's and early 60's are still working and if they are in office jobs computers are part of their everyday life anyway. I agree that attitude plays a huge part - my MIL assumes that because she's older new tech isn't for her, despite having worked on computers for years and having had a go on my iPad (and taking to it straight away) it's all too new for her.
We're currently trying to persuade her to get one for herself but it's not going well.

Icimoi · 05/10/2014 09:08

My father was using his computer regularly at the age of 94, including a programme he'd written himself. If he were around now I'm quite sure he'd have an iPad.

mommy2ash · 05/10/2014 09:20

has she been able to pick up the use of technology easily? my bil bought one for my 53 year-old mum and she couldn't use it at all despite us all trying to teach her. she also can't use smart phones kindle or DVD players.

Cariad007 · 05/10/2014 09:23

Oh god, I clicked on this thread thinking you were asking why your granny couldn't operate a TOILET!

dementedma · 05/10/2014 09:26

80 year old mum loves her Samsung tab. She does word puzzles and tweets on it.