My little dog Leonard is not what you’d call bold. You could pen him in with a six-inch fence. He doesn’t jump in the water at the river. You have to help him up on the bed and couch, which is not always convenient, and he insists that I get up immediately to help him. Since he came to live with me, I’ve been trying to teach him to use improvised steps to get up on things, but he’s terrified of new objects. About a year ago, I got a little blue step stool and tried to interest him, but he wanted nothing to do with it, no matter how many treats it held. Still, I left it out, and when he wanted to get up on the couch, I would “make” him use the stool as a step. Eventually, he started doing it by himself, but I still had to stand up and walk over there. Now, he does it by himself almost every time. It took a really long time, but I taught an old dog at least one new trick.
One of my home-care clients is a Vietnam vet in his eighties, a retired hippie who is sharp as a tack and has had an incredibly interesting life. He reads a lot and stays informed, but had never used a computer before, not even at a job, perhaps because of his countercultural history as a Rainbow Family member and wanderer. He’d been hearing that his old friends had web pages, and all sorts of other interesting things that can be found online, so he asked me to show him. I brought my laptop over so he could see.
A lot of elderly people don’t use computers, or aren’t very comfortable with them, and I’ve been using a computer as long as I can remember, so I think my early attempts were clumsy. Just using the trackpad to navigate around the screen is a skill, and it’s hard to click on things if your hands shake. It’s hard to see lots of things on the screen. But he persevered, intrigued by this window on the world he’d opened up right there in his little apartment. We ordered out-of-print books about esoteric knowledge he never thought he’d find; I think this is his favorite thing about the Internet. That and Spotify, of course.
We have an excellent nonprofit here in Eugene called Next Step that recycles computers, so he got an old laptop and I set it up for him. At first I’d pull up things for him to read or watch while I was there, but he’s learned to Google. I’ve learned to slow it down and only show him one new thing at a time. Also, a mouse is much easier than the trackpad! It’s amazing, really; he is so curious and determined. Now, please do not be thinking that I have any kind of magical ability to teach seniors to use the Internet; he did this all by himself, and now is connecting to the world, finding opportunities and engaging with people. It’s inspiring. It makes me think, “Hey, maybe I can change too!”
When last we spoke, I had two problems I was trying to solve: replacing my stolen laptop, and acquiring a power recliner for my other client, so that he would be able to rest comfortably. With the help of some wonderful Kossacks, both problems have now been solved. (It really shook me, and I disappeared for a while, but things are looking up. More on that later.) I have a great refurbished laptop, and my client has a comfortable recliner. Since he got it, he’s been sleeping so much better, and it shows on his peaceful, smiling face. Chronic pain is so debilitating, as many of us know, and being able to sleep comfortably is making a big difference in his quality of life. Thank you to everyone who helped.
And thanks, as always, for being my community. Things are going pretty haywire, and we’d better hold on to each other. Namaste, y’all! Be blessed.
