Teens open up a whole new world to seniors by teaching them Facebook
When Sarah Wishnia received an iPad from her daughter, she “didn’t even know how to open the thing.” Max Rosenblum showed her how to socialize on Facebook and how to shop on Amazon with her new device.
When Sam Nevel’s children and grandchildren handed him an iPhone, “it was like Greek to me.” But Max taught him how to find his way through email and how to connect on FaceTime.
With Max’s help, Elena Rosner learned to give orders to Siri, Mike Smith familiarized himself with Waze and Honey Rosen began searching for information about movies, restaurants and books on her smartphone.
A story by Ana Veciana-Suarez, a reporter with the Miami Herald, tells about Max, 16, and a rising junior at University School in Davie, Fla. His students are residents of The Palace at Coral Gables, octogenarians fascinated by technology and eager to learn about this brave new frontier. “Max,” says Wishnia, “has opened a whole new world to me.”
She can now receive texts and photos from her grandchildren scattered around the country, order a ride on Lyft, purchase walking shoes on Amazon and, as of just recently, synchronize her phone with her iPad.
The seniors who gather for the monthly one-on-one sessions at The Palace library echo Wishnia’s enthusiasm — and appreciation — for a teenager who has become like an adopted grandson to them. Max’s weekend visits at the senior community are more than a social event. They’re a lifeline.
“Hardly a week goes by that I don’t have a computer question,” Rosner said. “By the time he comes, I have a list this long to ask him.”
Max began offering his tech tutorials for seniors at The Palace and at The Palms in Weston more than a year ago, after he helped his grandmother, Nancy Okun of New Jersey, with her iPhone, iPad and Apple watch.
He taught her how to text and use Facebook and FaceTime. He also downloaded a Scrabble app for her to play.
“She loved it,” he said, not without a trace of pride.
That experience inspired him and his parents, Adam and Heather. They reached out to a connection at The Palace at Coral Gables and launched a website, techmaxed.com. He also recruited other teens to teach the one-on-one lessons in Weston and Coral Gables, including students from Belen Jesuit Prep.
These young tech pros go to the retirement communities at least once a month, and the sign-up sheets for the one-on-one tutorials fill up fast. Though a class might appear to be more expedient, Max found out that group sessions simply didn’t work.
“People are at different levels, and it was hard to teach that way,” he said. “It’s much better to give them individual help.”
All his students, regardless of age or skill, are motivated by the power of technology to connect. They want to stay in touch — and see — children and great-grandchildren who live elsewhere. They come with their notepads, laptops and smartphones in hopes of learning how to text, Skype, FaceTime, Facebook and email.
“Most people come more than once,” he added. “I have my regulars.”