Many people are unfamiliar or have difficulty with using voicemail, E-mail and Internet technologies. Here are some tips to help you use these sources to find out more about programs and services described in this guide.

Telephone

What do I need to know about using voice mail or automated voice response (AVR) systems?

Many government offices (health, income security), transportation companies (airlines, bus, highways), and even doctor’s offices use AVRs. The following are some suggestions that can help you practice using AVRs until you become comfortable with them. Many AVR services are toll-free (1-800-numbers), or part of local exchanges, so there is no cost to you to practice.

Have a pencil and paper handy to jot down the various options offered and which buttons to press. Make note of the information you need when you hear it.

• Take your time to listen to all the options before choosing one. This can take several minutes.
• Take your time to press the number of the one you want.
• If you press the wrong number, return to the main menu and start over or hang up and call back.
• Usually, there is a number you can press to speak to someone in person.

What telephone services are available for persons with special needs?

Trouble hearing

Your telephone company can rent you a handset to attach to your phone that increases the volume. Teletypewriter (TTY) and signalling device services are also available for the deaf.

Visually impaired

You can obtain a large number pad for the phone. If you cannot read the phone book numbers, you may be eligible for free directory assistance services. Contact your telephone company for more information.

Speech and motion disabilities

Your telephone company can tell you how to access special services.

Internet

What is the Internet?

The Internet is a world-wide resource base of information that you can access through a computer via an Internet service provider such as your telephone or cable company, or an Internet/computer business. Many public libraries and some seniors’ centres make Internet services available to you at no charge.

What services can I find on the Internet?

You can find information on almost any topic by searching on the Internet. Once you sign on using a registered name and password, you will be offered search options. Just type in what you’re looking for in the briefest terms, and the search engine direct you to many Websites where you can explore further. Or, if you have the address for a particular Website, just type it in the address line and press Enter.

Are there guidelines for finding information on the Internet?

There is little regulation about what can or cannot be put on the Internet, so you must be careful to obtain reputable information. Particularly if you are looking for health-related information it’s important to find trustworthy Websites. Websites should include the author’s name, professional standing and contact information. Never use information you find on the Internet as a substitute for professional advice.

Where can I learn how to use the Internet?

Your public library may offer computer training to help you learn to use email and the Internet. Many community colleges and university extension divisions offer computer classes specifically designed for older adults. You can ask your local seniors’ centre to set up workshops or courses on using computers. As well, numerous manuals, books and magazines are available that can provide opportunities for you to learn.

E-mail

Electronic mail, or E-mail, allows you to send or receive messages almost instantly to others via the Internet. Both parties need access to a computer, modem and telephone line or cable connection, as well as to a software program to set up an E-mail system.

You can buy E-mail software when you buy the service to connect your computer to the Internet. This is usually offered as a subscription service for a monthly fee, like your telephone or cable television service. Alternatively, if you do not have a computer with Internet capacity, but do have access to one (e.g., through your public library), you can subscribe to free E-mail services on the Internet. www.hotmail.com and www.yahoo.com are two Internet sites that provide free E-mail. You can sign on and choose your own username and password to ensure that no one else has access to your E-mail account. The information above was adapted from Making the Telephone Work for You and Using Computers for E-mail and the Internet. These brochures were produced by the Seniors’
Education Centre, University of Regina as part of the project Everyday Technologies and Older Adults: Friend or Foe? sponsored by the Nova Scotia Centre on Aging of Mount St. Vincent University. Funding was provided by Health Canada’s Population Health Fund.