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3 Tips To Help You Assist The Elderly With Technology Problems

As the world continues to rely more on technology every day, it can be difficult for senior citizens to adapt to the new devices being released into the market today. If you work for a remote tech repair company, you will likely receive calls from elderly clients who need help troubleshooting their electronic devices.

Here are three tips you can use to help you assist the elderly in solving their technology problems in the future.

1. Be sure to explain any technical terms you use.

There are many words and phrases related to technical devices that younger generations use on a daily basis. While you might understand what words like upload, cookies, and USB mean, these can be foreign terms to a senior citizen.

Rather than assuming the individual knows the technical jargon that is commonplace in your everyday conversations, be sure that you explain what technical terms mean. This will help your elderly clients better understand the directions you provide when they call in for remote tech support services.

2. Be sure that your elderly clients are online.

Many of the technical devices used today require access to the Internet to function properly. While it might seem intuitive that an Internet connection is required to access web pages and online content, elderly people don't have the experience required to recognize that a connection is needed to operate their devices.

A study by the Pew Research Center showed that only 54% of people over the age of 65 used the Internet, and only a third of people over the age of 77 regularly log onto the Internet. With so few seniors using the Internet on a regular basis, it can be beneficial to teach your customers how to get online as they call in for remote tech support services in the future.

3. Be sure to exercise patience when assisting elderly clients.

It's important to recognize that your senior customers experience challenges that can affect their ability to perform the tasks required to troubleshoot their electronic devices. Impaired motor skills, poor vision, and hearing loss can be physical barriers preventing elderly customers from completing required tasks quickly.

Confidence can also affect how quickly a senior customer is able to follow your directions. A study conducted by the University of Alberta found that lack of confidence can result in seniors remaining less proficient when it comes to using computer technology. Exercise patience when working with elderly customers, and you will be able to help them resolve their problems more effectively.

Providing remote tech support for senior citizens can be a challenge. By explaining technical terms, verifying your customer is connected to the Internet, and exercising patient while resolving problems, you can provide quality support for your elderly customers in the future. Contact a computer services company, like iTOK, for more information.


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