than younger people to have home internet or a smartphone nearly 22 million or 42 of americans 65 and older lack broadband at home according to a 2021 study from nonprofit older adults technology services lowincome and black and latino older adults are more likely to be left out the study says we are asking them to stay at home and yet a lot of seniors are not connected said lauren cotter of the community tech network a san francisco nonprofit that trains lowincome residents on technology and provides free tablets and hotspots those with devices and internet may wrestle with how to use an app or fear giving out personal information because they worry about fraudsters online shopping scams cost americans 2459 million last year according to the federal trade commission and online grocery shopping which includes tips and delivery charges costs more than going to stores the pandemic has also exposed the shortcomings of the internet which often fails to accommodate people with disabilities or an aging population with visual and hearing issues iris berman 93 lives in an assisted living center in san francisco and used to buy her shoes online as her eyesight worsened her son ed berman who works in technology would help her by sharing her screen virtually he took over her shopping completely during the pandemic because her vision loss was so severe none of these websites works well when theyre enlarged he said then theres the simple fact that older people did not grow up with the internet so things may not come as intuitively compared with those who have lynnette white 72 buys clothes and household items from amazon and target online on her iphone but she finds other apps including the safeway grocery one too hard to navigate when she tries to check out her shopping cart she finds herself starting all over again she says its frustrating that there are are too many steps still she said she likes learning new skills and her grandchildren who she sends amazon gift cards as presents approve theyre very impressed that at my age i am excited about technology white said ap published on feb 25 2021 at 0216 pm ist telegram facebook copy link be the first one to comment comment now comments comment now read comment 1 all comments post post find this comment offensive choose your reason below and click on the submit button this will alert our moderators to take actions reasons for reporting foul language defamatory inciting hatred against a certain community out of context spam others report join the community of 2m industry professionals subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights analysis download etretail app get realtime updates save your favourite articles scan to download app internet amazon older people shein federal trade commission community new york san francisco whole foods homenewsindustryshopping online eases isolation for older adults