Writing for Senior Citizens
If you are writing for seniors, I do have a few tips - after all, as they say in the country, "I are one of them!"
If you want seniors to read and buy from your page:
1. Enlarge the font a bit - it does not have to be huge, but it is helpful to have a slightly larger font. On my senior blog, I tell my seniors how to enlarge using Control + . Seniors appreciate little tips that make their internet searches easier.
2. Keep your post and products practical. We really do not want a bunch of stuff - we are busy clearing out and organizing and making choices about which items are important. We like organizers, space savers, advice on decluttering.
3. Adaptive Kitchen tools and/or recipes for 2 are always helpful. Look at easy to use products - jar openers, can openers, measuring cups with large print. And folks, we all need recipes that will freeze well - especially healthy recipes that will stock the freezer with ready to bake meals!
4. If you write instructions for using an iPhone or other techy device, please don't use tech terms. Most of us do not know what you are talking about! Keep it simple. i.e. Push the button at the bottom of the screen. Right now, we are trying to teach my blind husband how to use an iPhone! Quite an experience!
5. Most seniors love clean humor - don't make fun of seniors in a mean way, of course, but phrases like "old age is not for sissies" and "just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly" are appreciated and may bring the only smile for the day.
I hope these thoughts get your head spinning with ideas for some senior pages! Remember seniors buy gifts for grandchildren --- tons of those!!!!!! and good suggestions about gifts for kids that are easy to ship would make a great post.
PS Halloween costumes for seniors would be fun -- anybody got any ideas?
Recent Comments
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Great article, I have started a women's group and one of our mission is to bridge the gap between the young adults and the elderly. Also I am caring for my dad. One niche I am considering is on Seniors citizens
Your group sounds fabulous, Ms Favor -- so many ways young adults and seniors can help each other! My senior sister lives alone and changing a lightbulb in the ceiling or going up into the attic can both become crisis if her adult children are not in town.....
In fact, one of the nicest things our kids have done for us == a weekend in the attic......cleared it out completely. There is nothing up there anymore. No reason for us to go up there!
Thank you Moonvine. I enjoy giving back to the community and you have just given me more ideals on bridging the gap
Great suggestions! Thank You!!! As per Halloween costumes, I'll give that some thought... Marge & Homer Simpson? Ha ha, wouldn't that be quite the sight. I'd love to see my Grandma with that big Marge Simpson hair! :)
Gosh Spring! I had not considered the Simpsons ! that would be funny! We don't watch that and I had not even thought of it!
Thank you soooo much, I too an a senior and the small font drives me crazy. I had learned the ctrl + by researching how to increase the font size on the internet.. It is amazing to me how many people will use a size 8 font. If I have to work to hard to read it I just move on. You also gave me a topic to research. Thank you.
Indeed, there is no point in writing for seniors if they can't read it. I try to remember to enlarge the font on my senior blog articles - and I always enlarge the font when I am writing about vision aids. It amazes me when people write about vision aids and use that size 8 font! lol
What a great article, I really mean it! You really have thought this through. Having dealt with my aging parents, both of whom are now gone, you brought back memories for me. Some funny and some just very, very sad. We should all think of ways to make their lives easier. You have given me a lot of ideas, thank you!
Thank you, Meredith! I think the senior niche is just beginning to be covered - there is very little competition for someone with good ideas for seniors!
Good ideas, Joan.
While I'm not quite to Senior status, I am a card carrying member of AARP.
The tip about enlarging the font is my favorite. Even with glasses and a 20" monitor, I struggle sometimes. I find that most sites display fine at a 125% zoom, so that is my default position. Still have to zoom closer on some sites.
Can't imagine teaching a blind person to use a touchscreen. What a hoot.
Thank you, Scott! and welcome to "almost senior" status! Our son is getting too close for my comfort, too! lol
Press the CTRL and + key at the same time and you will really love your screen!
Oh you cannot imagine re teaching hubby.....mercy! he lost his sight in 1988 - has never seen a fax or email or the internet, so it's really difficult to explain . we will skip that touch screen. hopefully the voice activation will be our key! and just two buttons to push. one step at a time! :) and yep! it's a hoot! (you must be in the south! we do love that expression!)
Yes, I am in the south. We traded a couple of messages on G+ via OWM. I am Scott Worthington in Marion, NC. As I recall you are in SC, just outside of Charlotte. Rock Hill?
I use a different profile pic on G+. Less facial hair. Maybe I should be consistent across my profiles, so I am more recognizable.
Hey Scott, are you familiar with Tuxedo, NC. My sister in law has a camp for girls there called Camp Glen Arden. Beautiful neck of the woods your in. @ moonvine ever hear of Hickory Knob State Resort Park?
Duh! Now I know who you are , Scott!! Thank you!! JP, I have not been to Hickory Knob State Park in years but I have visited there.
I worked at Hickory Knob for a summer back in the early 80's, that's when I fell in Love with S.C. not to mention a little ole gal from North Augusta, Ga. Beautiful scenery in them there parts.
JP, we have dear life long friends in North Augusta - Terrell Wiggins and family. Bet your wife knows them or some of the kids! lol lol bet you were at Hickory Knob when I took our daughter there years ago. about 1982 or 83. We spent 2-3 days just hanging around the pool. I was under a great deal of stress at work and needed to settle in with notebook and no interruptions. so she swam and I worked poolside!
Hi there. As a senior these tips are really great. Silly how you don't always think of them yourself isn't it?
Regards
Hudson.
Thank you, @Hudson! I am trying to keep a list of the most aggravating parts of aging! for posts and products! :) nothing like experience, huh? I think I could do an entire series of posts about attending funerals - seems like we do a lot of that these days! not fun!
Thanks so much for the tips moonvine ( love the name) love your smile. Halloween costume for Srs. If you could simulate a fountain of youth, that would be cool.
Thanks @jpnetco ! Love that fountain of youth idea! One year my husband and I dressed as the devil and a pregnant angel. we had fun with that!
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yes Ideas, good