Marcia Duhart is putting an end to the digital divide between the ages by teaching seniors computer skills
By: Julie Gartland
While this is the time of year when many young people are finishing their education, some older adults in the area are just beginning. Determined not to be left behind in the ever-changing world of computers, many seniors are taking computer classes.
Computers now are considered a basic tool at work, school and home, and the elderly are catching up with this technology with the help of Marcia Duhart, owner of CyberSeniors Services in Hightstown.
“Everything these days is something dot-com,” said Ms. Duhart, “and the key to understanding computers is learning the lingo.”
With terms such as World Wide Web (www or w3), the Internet, windows, hypertext and icons — they can sound like a foreign language to those not familiar with them — computers can be intimidating to a generation of people who did not grow up with them.
However, with a little help, a lot of patience and some guidance, senior adults are forging into the information age.
Ms. Duhart developed CyberSeniors Services in 1997 after working as a corporate trainer at Merrill Lynch for 21 years. While at Merrill Lynch, she focused mainly on helping the senior brokers learn how to work on the computers.
“They didn’t want to be bothered by this newfangled thing (computers)…they were used to the old ways,” she said.
But after she spent an hour with them, Ms. Duhart said they admitted it wasn’t as hard as they thought. “They said it wasn’t so bad because I made it fun,” she said.
“Seniors are the fastest-growing group learning the Internet,” Ms. Duhart tells her students. “Why? Because it’s a great entertainment tool, you have the time and it’s a way to keep in contact with family and friends.”
However, seniors tend to be hesitant because all the information seems overwhelming. They need someone patient, someone who will give them personal attention, someone who will spend the time and explain to them the lingo of computers.
With some trepidation, Claire Derman, a resident of the Chelsea at Forsgate assisted-living community in Jamesburg, said, “It’s a nice opportunity to learn, I just hope I can absorb it.”
Ms. Duhart assured the elderly students that their memory actually would improve by working on the Internet because of the repetitive tasks involved.
“And that’s the secret — practice,” said Ms. Duhart. “Doing it over and over.”
Ms. Duhart is a graduate of Rutgers University and stays busy with numerous organizations. She is vice president of the Hightstown-East Windsor Business and Professional Women, a member of the American Association of University Women, Princeton, a member of the N.J. Association of Elected Women Officials and a member of the N.J. League of Women Voters.
Ms. Duhart has extensive experience teaching computers to senior adults. When the computer lab was set up at Meadow Lakes in Hightstown last October, Ms. Duhart was there helping the residents acclimate to the computers.
Sherry Hurwitz, director of residential activities at Meadow Lakes, said “Marcia developed all the basic course work and the handouts for the courses given here. Together we planned and made changes to meet the preferences of our residents.”
Ms. Hurwitz said Ms. Duhart works with residents in their homes on their own computers, and also with residents in the Meadow Lakes computer lab.
“Most of our residents really enjoyed working with Marcia,” said Mr. Hurwitz. “Some took two or three courses and some wrote letters of praise to the Meadow Lakes administrators.”
Ms. Duhart also coordinates with Amy Bauman of the Howard Scarborough Senior Center in East Windsor to provide free computer classes to the seniors of the township.
“We have received an overwhelming response to the CyberSenior classes,” said Ms. Bauman, program coordinator for the senior center. “Ms. Duhart has been a true asset to the senior program.”
Ms. Bauman attributes the success of the program to Ms. Duhart’s patience and the fact she does not overload the seniors with too much technical information.
“They feel comfortable asking Marcia questions because she is so very patient. She teaches them what they need to know,” Ms. Bauman said. “They’re mostly interested in the Internet and e-mail, so that’s what she teaches them.”
East Windsor Township Mayor Janice Mironov, who Ms. Duhart said has been instrumental in bringing this free service to the seniors of the area, recently appointed Ms. Duhart as a special member of the East Windsor Commission on Aging.
Students who attend CyberSenior classes are between the ages of 70 and 85.
“They want to keep up with their grandchildren,” said Ms. Bauman, “and when they’re in class together, with their peers, they feel comfortable.”
Ms. Derman, who was concerned about being able to absorb all the information, finished up the introduction class eager to learn more, and she looked forward to sharing the information with her children and grandchildren.
“I have a lot of experience teaching seniors,” said Ms. Duhart. “I have lots of patience; I don’t have a problem saying things over and over again, pleasantly.”
Ms. Duhart feels the courses are beneficial to both the students and herself.
“I enjoy being with seniors and hearing their stories. I hope to get some of their wisdom.”