At 94 years old, Isabella Dryden is adapting to the times. She began her teaching career decades ago in a one-room schoolhouse, and now teaches seniors about computers and living online.
Dryden is an instructor at Creative Retirement Manitoba, a community centre for senior citizens, teaching computer skills to older adults.
"I think it's so important that people who retire have something to do to keep the brain active," Dryden told CTV News. "That's so important."
With more and more senior citizens exploring the Internet, perhaps grandma will be returning that robe you gave her for Christmas and getting herself a laptop or iPad instead.
According to Nielsen statistics out of the U.S., the number of seniors who regularly use the Internet jumped 55 per cent in five years, from 11.3 million in 2004 to 17.5 million in 2009.
Many of them go online to search for information, such as weather reports, medical stories and maps, the Nielsen research shows.
However, seniors also go online as a social activity, and use email and even Facebook to connect with friends and family.
Winnipeg resident Joan Clasen's home has three computers for only two occupants. She also has both an iPhone and an iPad that she uses nearly each day to do everything from complete puzzles to read books.
"It can get pretty lonely, especially if you live by yourself," Clasen told CTV News. "So you can connect on the computer and talk to your friends."
While the seniors that Dryden teaches are learning everything from how to send an email to how to download digital photographs and create spreadsheets, older online users are also embracing Facebook in ever-increasing numbers.
A report released in 2010 suggested that the number of people aged 55 and over who joined Facebook in the previous two years increased by more than 1,000 per cent.
"Using things like Facebook and social media gives them that opportunity to find friends they went to school with or worked with," says Richard Denesiuk of Creative Retirement Manitoba. "The ability to get to communicate with them feels great."
With a report from CTV's Jill Macyshon
