How does aging affect ability to learn new skills and adjusting to updates in technology they already know?
How does aging affect ability of people to learn new skills? Which adjustments do older people need to learn new skills?
As i see, many older people have difficulties with even adapting to new updates to technology they already know, and even harder time learning to use new technology from scratch.
At the same time i read on internet that healthy older adults have only slight issues with memory (forgetting some stuff from time to time, etc). But no issues with memorizing new skills are mentioned. What is therefore true? Is the issues with learning new skills and/or adjusting to updates to existing technology just laziness or unwilling of older people to learn (they don't want to learn new skills anymore) or are these issues with learning new skills and adjusting to updates of technology they already know valid and "normal" (part of healthy aging) in old people?
In my humble opinion, information technology, for example, is changing far too rapidly for many older people to grasp. Updates which are hard for older people to grasp are, hovewer, not limited to information technology as they are present everywhere.
@CheerySandi
To me trying to stay mentally active and also updated is very important in these fast changing times. Some people seem to loose interest in learning at one point and that can be a big issue when aging. I agree though on your point of technology - it's a challenge to stay updated particularly for the elderly who are living alone.
@amiablePeace77
would you be able now, at your age, in 4 years learn the local sign language of the deaf people to level C2 if you were interested in it? I think that it isn't just interests but also our aging brain - young people are able to learn new languages quickly, but older people have harder time learning them.
@CheerySandi
When I was young learning different languages was easy, now it would definitively be much more difficult but I would give it a try if I wanted to learn it. I'm constantly learning new things which I need to make life easier and more affordable. I believe motivation also plays a big role. It's easier when one gets into the liking of learning early and not only when it is desperately needed.
@amiablePeace77
Would you be able to learn one of Slavic languages now if you wished to move to one of Slavic language speaking countries now?
@amiablePeace77
amiable, here below is the link to an article which prove that decline in cognitive abilities in many older people is not just because of their loss of interest but because of the changes in the brain which develop in older adults (which is part of healthy aging). We have to consider that people who get older, experience decline in their abilities which is very natural and needs to be accepted in order that we are supportive to them. We can't deny these effects of aging as it would be unsupportive to older people.
https://www.symmetrycounseling.com/counselor-chicago/aging-what-is-the-difference-between-fluid-and-crystallized-intelligence/
@CheerySandi
Thank you for the link sandi! I will have a look at it asap.
@CheerySandi
My experience as an old person is that if you don't fear new technology, are willing to learn new things, and want to expand your horizons, you will be fine. Dementia is a separate issue. Eating healthy, exercising, pushing yourself throughout your life to keep learning are key to a flexible brain. Many colleges offer free or inexpensive courses. You wouldn't receive credit, but you'd be doing something good for yourself.
@CheerySandi
Why do you ask? It's not at all clear. Or you seeking interviews? Writing a research paper?
I'm in my mid-70's and while I no longer write bits of code, I'm up to doing as much now as ever.
There are only 3 barriers possible...
1) waning cognitive abilities
2) lack of interest
3) lack of sufficient belief in yourself
@TexasExpat48
I am asking because i wish to understand my parents better. I can't believe that it is their lack of interest that i have to repeat the same thing 2000 x in order to learn them something very simple (and often with little success as they forget it promptly and if there is just minor change they can't perform the task anymore and have to start from beginning - therefore 2000 repeats again before they understand and there are changes constantly in information technology). I can't believe that it is lack of sufficient belief in themeselves either.
I can't believe that it is their lack of interest that they have to watch news 10 x per day in order to know what is going on in the world and even then they don't really understand it. I can't believe that it is lack of sufficient belief in themeselves either.
@TexasExpat48
I wish also to tell you that i feel very stressed due to it.
@CheerySandi ~~~~ Dear Sandi, I WILL be answering your reply, but it won't be for a few days. I have experienced the same, but have learned c great deal about learning and teaching nince the end and anxious to share!👍
Technology is pretty incredible. I can do pretty well however I am
just figuring out where to find everything in cups but I continued irregardless and getting better everyday.
it does take time to learn new technology and patience. I do think it’s use is important.
As I age I enjoy expending my mind to learn new things. I have had a passion for technology so it is my normal. However it depends on the person maybe my father in law is 87 and does more technology than myself.
My memory isn’t what it used to be for sure. I don’t recall what I did yesterday some days lol 😂.
Healthy ageing is very much doing what works and adjusting as you go along physically and mentally.
@SunShineAlwaysGrateful 🙂 Hey. Sunshine ~~~ I greatly identify with what you said about your yourself and technology... AND I FULLY identify about trying to get around this website, find things AND then Try To Find Them Again! But the situation could be improved, but that would take a person (maybe.a few) who has a highly logical mind and strong understanding of multilevel indexing website structure - paired with a laddered directory.
Then it would take a firm (or individual with online examples of their work) who builds websites to construct the needed framework (actually, there most probably are free downloads of the basic framework, but you have to have someone skilled in using the current most-used website programming. And my learning began and ended with html
The data entry could be done by the start up team... Who would use the proper protocol and create clear and illustrated instructions so that any additions or deletions needed could be done (yes!!! BackUp before doing anything else would appear Everywhere!)
It's just a thought born of hours spent stumbling around in a murky jumbled thicket. 🤥
@TexasExpat48
7cups works pretty great and well organized in all areas except I tend to get lost in the communities the forums the app is glitchy and won’t allow to fully escape a thread and then when you do get back to the communities listing it is what you were looking for with the past discussion topic you previously viewed …
I tend to go back and forth from website to app but the app is preferred but sometimes glitchy!
Psst it is worth the getting lost sometimes you find brilliant posts 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌😎😎😎😎😎😎
I just spent more than an hour looking for thi forum, then for this thread. Me should be allowed to have a list of forums and places we have interacted on and a notification on the places where there's been action on something you've posted.
It would be a blessing. Im sewece ADD, I am stressed out am almost incapable of doing anything to help myself. To come here an be totally non-functional is demoralizing, distressing and both mentally and physically exhausting
ct
@TexasExpat48
I'm very sorry to hear that you had problems to find this forum and the thread. I can only imagine how challenging it might be to look for something and dealing with your ADD at the same time.
Here are some options that can make it easier to find things on the site (example 50+)
1. Join the community https://www.7cups.com/home/50plus/
2. Subscribe to the taglist to get notifications about new threads and posts https://www.7cups.com/forum/50OverCommunity_193/Checkin_1704/50OverTaglist_289721/
3. Using the search option on the home page https://www.7cups.com/home/50plus/ to the right above "Filter by Topic"
4. Using "Filter by Topic"
I hope this helped. Please pm me if you have any further questions.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-helpful-brain/202203/how-does-learning-change-we-age
Great article thank you 😎😎😎😎
I think tech becomes harder because of a few things.
Learning is more than just memory based. So even if memory isn't changed all that much, putting all the connections in to learning something new does become more difficult with age.
Relearning is an added level of complexity. As tech changes, it's not just a matter of learning it, but there's well established steps that used to be used that are no longer applicable!
I can relate to having a parent who is mostly stuck in her ways. My father recently died and I've been spending more time with mom. It's a weird situation as it brings up feelings from my childhood, some of which are unhealthy. I learned to deal with them but now I get to again in a new way
My mom seems like a child to me in many ways. She's really stuck in how she lives and doesn't want to step outside her comfort zone at all. Which I guess is okay. She's 84. But I also feel like I have to always boost her confidence and it's emotionally draining.
@CheerySandi Neurologically speaking, as we age, the ability to form connections between neurons keeps declining. That's what 'learning something' is at the micro level, connection of neurons.
So, it is very common, natural and inevitable.
Being said that, there are a few known ways that can help reduce these declines.
1) Physical Exercises
2) Mental exercises
3) Actively learning newer things (games, languages, skills, workshops, etc)
4) Supplements (not a medical advice. But you can always ask a professional)
