Grand Cayman, 22 October 2021 – Several seniors made the call to attend the Older Persons Month (OPM) ‘How to Use Your Smartphone’ workshop on Monday, 18 October 2021.

The session, held at the Older Persons Active Ageing Centre (OPAAC), attracted six participants. Organised by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), the 90-minute class tied in with this year’s OPM theme: ‘Digital Equity For All Ages – Connect/Create/Contribute.’ 

One of 12 workshops facilitated by a local media company, during the annual observation, the session familiarised attendees with the following:

·         How to optimise smartphone layout  –  changing the background, knowing the icons and phone settings

·         Understanding basic smartphone functions  – learning how to make your phone more user-friendly

·         Learning about the function and uses of QR codes – as quick read codes are widely used by restaurants’ electronic menus

All participants brought along their smartphones and tablets.

According to co-founder of Trifecta Films, Jonathan Webster, attendees were not the only ones who gained insights from the courses.

“Technology is here to stay and is becoming an increasingly central part of our lives. Facilitating these courses has shown us that older persons are often very willing to learn the fundamentals of smartphone use. They often just need help to understand how the features can be used to simplify aspects of their everyday lives.”

One repeat customer was Carvin Forbes from Bodden Town East. The class’s only male said:  “I am very green when it comes to using my smartphone and even greener when it comes to social media,” he admitted.

“I went to the first class and learned a lot about smartphone use. I then spent hours going through the icons one by one before deciding to come back for more.”

 After explaining a feature, by pairing the smartphone to the television screen, the workshop facilitators gave one-to-one mini tutorials and answered questions on an individual basis.

Attendees particularly enjoyed learning how to set their world clocks to the local times of countries where relatives lived, and how to create WhatsApp groups for emergency communication during storms.

As George Town resident Ruby Williams said: “I need to know about my phone and truly believe you’re never too old to learn.”

Free workshops on ‘How to Use Social Media’ will take place at OPAAC on 25, 27 and 29 October at OPACC, 9:30 am – 11.30 am.

To register (space is limited to 12 persons) contact: Dorline Welcome 925-4083 (George Town), Vanda Powery 916-7902 (West Bay), Carol Bodden 924-3309 (Bodden Town), Pat Hanlan 925-7451 (North Side) and Delmira Bodden 925-5543 (East End).