November ’25 Senior Resources Guide: Life with a Digital Assist

by Suzanne Pollak, JCA senior writer

Baby boomers feel more comfortable shopping and doing tasks in person, but they are using digital media more and more every day. They may not check their smartphones as frequently as their younger counterparts, but many are checking their phones when they first get up and are quickly overcoming screen time anxieties.

Older adults are also turning to the digital world to monitor their health and make life more convenient, from ordering groceries online to scheduling rides. They are emailing family and friends and playing free video games. And yes, they are scrolling social media, although they are much more likely to check out Facebook than Instagram.

According to a survey of more than 2,000 people aged 59 to 77 by AddictionResource.net, 35% of respondents are using their smartphones one to three hours a day, and another 30% are using them three to five hours a day. Half of the respondents said they check their phones within an hour of waking up.

While they may not spend hours on TikTok or Instagram, it is no longer true that older adults shy away from new technology and the digital world in general. This Senior Resources Guide, which is written by the Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington, is designed to show that it is no longer true that some people are just too old to use the internet or even send email. It will also provide examples of technology geared specifically for those who did not grow up with а smartphone or tablet in their hands.

>>Read full guide

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