New Genealogy Website

Would you like to chart your family tree? There is a new free website called Geni, which helps you to create your family tree. In addition, it offers social networking features, so that family members can collaborate to create the family tree. One can also add family pictures or videos to share with family or friends. To protect your privacy, you can set the account to allow access only to family members. People are using the website to find out more about their distant relatives and even to plan family reunions.

[This information was found via the a post by Michelle Boule on the ALA Techsource Blog.]

New Online Job Search for Adults 50+

AARP and RetirementJobs.com have formed a partnership to provide a free job search website for adults 50 years or older. One can search for full time, part time, or flexible jobs. A recent press release from AARP stated that "RetirementJobs.com and AARP will identify employers that maintain policies, practices and programs consistent with employment of people age 50 and older based solely on their proficiency, qualifications and contribution." AARP also provides a free online discussion group about career issues, called "The Water Cooler".

New Social Security Retirement Estimator

The Social Security Administration has just recently provided online access to a retirement benefits calculator. This calculator "is tied to a person’s actual Social Security earnings record and eliminates the need to manually key in years of earnings information." (Mark Lassiter, press release). This calculator is easy to use and can be used to compare retirement options. It gives expected benefits, based on different ages of retirement. Click here for the benefits calculator.

Windows Vista Information

Are you considering buying a new computer? Most new computers come with the Windows Vista operating system. There are some changes from the older Windows XP operating system. Here are some new titles about the Windows Vista operating system for Seniors:

Windows Vista for Seniors: for the over 50s


Switching to Windows Vista for Seniors

Internet and E-mail for Seniors with Windows Vista



Photos, Video and Music for Seniors with Windows Vista

If you would prefer to buy a new computer with the older Windows XP operating system, there is an article by Christopher Null from PCWorld about how to accomplish this task. The article is called "What does it take to get a PC with XP?"

Tips on Home Repair Fraud

Richard Zutell of AARP will be giving a talk at the Hudson Regional Library on July 17th at 2:00pm. This presentation will give advice about how to pick an honest contractor. If you would like to attend this presentation, you can register for the program by calling Hudson Library at (727) 861-3040.


[Hudson Regional Library is located at 8012 Library Road, Hudson FL]

Caregiver Communication Advice

Many older adults are the caregivers for older family members. If you are a caregiver, you may be interested in an article by Jessica Merritt called “50 Communication Tips and Techniques for Caregivers”. This article gives advice about how to communicate effectively, both verbally and nonverbally. For example, she recommends talking to your patient about only one thing at a time and giving that person time to respond. She also discusses how to communicate well with health care providers, health insurance providers, and other family members, since the caregiver may have to act as the mediator for the patient. The full article is here.

New Study about Internet Use

A new study from the AARP and the Center for the Digital Future has shown some interesting new trends in internet use by older adults (50+). A news release from AARP summarized some of the results of this study:

• Older adult internet users access news information online more often than do internet users under 20 years of age.
  

• 18% of older adult internet users play online games at least once per day.

• 68% browse and buy items online.

• 46% use the internet to maintain social relationships

• Of those 50+ who are involved in online communities, 70% state that these communities are very important to them.

This news release quoted Jeffrey I. Cole, director of the Center for the Digital Future at the USC Annenberg School for communication, as saying "In specific areas, there is often little difference in use of online technology between older users and some of the youngest users."

More highlights of this study can be found here.