Internet a Great Hobby To Pick Up for the Retired

Seniors are increasingly turning towards the Internet. According to data from the Pew Research Center, well-educated and affluent seniors tend to be quite active online. Nearly 60 percent of older adults are going online at least occasionally and often regularly. Almost half of these Internet users are accessing the web using broadband connections, which allow them to get online faster and more easily, and more than 75 percent of older adults have cell phones.

Unfortunately, older seniors and those with physical or cognitive disabilities tend to be more disconnected in real life and are more likely to be offline. Staying connected with others can help expand support networks, and the Internet offers us virtually unlimited ways to connect. It can improve our access to governmental services, give us valuable information and provide older Americans with the social support they need to live healthy, vibrant, productive lives.

People often begin to step back from work during their golden years and follow their passions. For many seniors, these years are an opportunity to engage in fulfilling hobbies and indulging their personal passions in their spare time. Going online can play an important role in their lives. Social networking is one great way to stay connected with children and grandchildren and can combat boredom. Social media also allows you a way to make new friends or meet new potential romantic interests through elderly dating.

The Internet also gives older adults easy and more accessible ways to learn new things. Whether you want to find instructions on a much-needed DIY project or you are planning the vacation of a lifetime, you can do it online. You can even go back to school and obtain a new major. The possibilities are endless.

Learning new things and staying close to the people you love can keep neural pathways open and strengthen your cognitive function. Those who have strong support systems online and in real life are less likely to get depressed and more likely to remain fully engaged with the world around them. If you are not yet online, there is no better time to sign on and get started than right now. You have nothing to lose and an entire world of information to gain.