The Mary Ann Young Center is opening its doors to technology and the seniors who wish to embrace it, come this winter. With appointments set for January 26 from 9:30AM to 11:45AM, and February 9 and 23 from 9:30AM to 1:15PM, the Tech Lab initiative comes as a bridge between the digital age and those who came before it, a hand extended in understanding that not all are born into the fluency of our current era's language—tech.
It is an embodiment of practical support where many seniors, equipped with newly gifted devices from the holiday season, find themselves in a struggle to keep pace with their operation once the family fades back into their corners of the world; dealing with Wi-Fi setups, the ins and outs of streaming services, the intricacies of smartphones, and the labyrinth that is the modern computer. Each senior will have the opportunity to sit down for 45 minutes with a volunteer. Volunteers, they're tech-savvy and patient, ready to walk through the woods of modern devices to find the clearing of understanding on the other side.
The importance of this cannot be overstated when considering the often overlooked but significant portion of our community, the seniors, who are just as deserving to engage with technology as any other. However, to take part in this often necessary routine of modern life, registration is required and spots are limited. Interested participants should call 763-786-9375 or visit BlaineMN.gov/MAYCRegister to secure their one-on-one session.
Along with their device, seniors are urged to bring a list of questions to their appointment; doing so ensures that their limited but valuable time is used as efficiently as possible, thereby increasing the likelihood that they leave with a greater confidence in maneuvering the technological landscape that paints the backdrop of today's society. For those looking to initiate the first step into the world where technology serves as an extension of self, the Mary Ann Young Center’s Tech Lab is a starting ground, and these appointments a potential catalyst toward greater independence and connectivity.
