By DAYNA WORCHEL
Contributing Writer
When Marjorie Jackson talks about the connections she has made on Facebook, the online social networking site, her eyes sparkle, her smile is wide, and her enthusiasm is contagious. Like any other Facebook user, she uses the site to connect with friends and family, share photos, and post updates about what is happening in her life. Jackson also happens to be an 87-year-old grandmother who lives at Atria Copeland, a senior assisted living center in Tyler. She is a part of the fastest grow-ing group of Facebook users – those who are ages 35 and older and who are outside of college, according to the company’s Web site. Facebook was founded in 2004 as a social utility that helps people connect more efficiently with their friends, family and coworkers. Anyone can sign up for the free service; all you need is a computer with an Internet connection. It helped Jackson to conquer some feelings of isolation as she was recovering from a fall last December.
She had to stop exercising in order to heal. At the same time, a close friend who had lived in East Texas moved to San Diego. “I was feeling lonely, and I got into Facebook about three months ago to keep up with my children, grandchildren and friends,” she said. Since then, Jackson, who also loves to paint, has used the site to get feedback from her painting teacher, Rachel Crain, who lives in Bullard. And the families of other Atria residents send photos of themselves and their activities and vacations, which Jackson then shares with the residents. “She will tell them, ‘I just got a new photo of your grandchild,’ or ‘one of your children is my new friend,’” said Stephanie Scott, the Engaged Life Director of the center. Scott said the other residents will then come to the computer and get excited to see the photos and messages from their loved ones.
Scott, who moved to Tyler from Los Angeles about a year and a half ago, said the idea for getting Jackson involved with Facebook came from a conversation the two had about Scott’s home in California. “She wanted to see where I came from, so I showed her my Facebook page with my photos.” Jackson was fascinated with the concept, so Scott helped her sign up for a Facebook account. Now, Jackson has plans to purchase a laptop computer so she can share her own photos and her favorite recipes online. She said she plans to make a photo CD to give to her grandson. “I always like to learn new things and have something to look forward to.” Scott meets with interested residents one-on-one for computer learning sessions once a week. She said most enjoy using sites such as Google, Wikipedia, and the Tyler Morning Telegraph to learn about new topics, and to read up on local news and current events. Scott said she is careful about making sure the residents know how to protect their privacy by using special settings on the Facebook pages so that the only people who may contact them are those they know. “We are very protective of our residents.” The most important part of all, Scott said, is the fact that Jackson now feels much less isolated. “She feels more connected and it has helped build her confidence.” Being connected is important to seniors, especially today, when family members often live in different locations and are too busy to sit down for weekly visits, said Sally Moseley, a Licensed Professional Counselor based in Longview.
“Facebook fills a basic human need to belong, and it is a good way for an older person to keep up and invite people to be a friend,” said Moseley. She says it’s better than e-mail in some ways, because e-mail is one-on-one and Facebook lets a larger number of people interact at once.
Scott sees firsthand how important it is for seniors to meet that need. “It’s a very emotional process, what families go through when they come here – Facebook helps keep them plugged in.”
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