I first met Bob in 2006 after moving to San Francisco. We connected at a neighborhood association meeting and stayed in touch over the years. Bob came into a community computer lab I had helped revitalize, and that’s where our trainer-learner journey began.
Back then, his questions were mostly about basics, like using email. As his role in the community grew, so did his tech needs, requiring the skills to create flyers, fill out spreadsheets, and manage files. There was even a period when I would go to his apartment regularly to help him with printing, backing up files, and solving other tech challenges in person.
Time moved on. I relocated to Texas in 2017 and no longer met with Bob regularly. But whenever I returned to San Francisco for board meetings, I would reconnect with him and other neighborhood friends. Last fall, it became clear that Bob, now 74, was struggling to keep up with his three part-time jobs. He could benefit from ongoing tech support, so we started meeting every Friday. Over the past few months, I have been working with him as a digital coach, helping him manage confusing requests, navigate new systems, and stay on top of his work so he can continue living independently in Hayes Valley.
Some of the projects we have tackled together include:
- Creating and editing documents and spreadsheets for work
- Understanding the basic of AI and how it can save him time
- Navigating emails, online forms, and other digital tasks that come up at his jobs
I am grateful to work with someone I have known for so long and to learn firsthand about the challenges older workers face. While we often hear about the “silver tsunami” and the large number of people retiring each day, many older adults, like Bob, need to work, often in multiple jobs, just to make ends meet.
In a fast-changing work landscape where AI and automation are reshaping jobs, staying current with technology is a challenge – even for younger workers. Without support, older adults risk losing income, independence, and confidence.
How the Community Can Help
- Nonprofit leaders: Offer more tech programs that address the current challenges older workers face. Check out this blog post for a list of tech tools I use in just the first few hours of my day, tools your clients might need as well.
- Foundations: Include funding for technology and digital skills training in grants that support older adults or workforce development programs.
- Government agencies: Connect nonprofit social service providers with volunteers or training that can help older workers and newcomers navigate technology in the workplace.
- Volunteers: If you are comfortable with technology and enjoy teaching, you can change someone’s life. Just an hour a week can help someone like Bob gain confidence and succeed in their work. Learn more about our volunteer program here.
- Corporate employers: Provide employees with time off and funding to support volunteer initiatives. Companies that encourage service opportunities see higher employee retention and make a meaningful impact in their communities.
Bob’s story is a reminder that even small acts of tech support can make a huge difference in people’s lives. Supporting older workers today is not just about teaching skills, it is about helping them maintain independence, dignity, and the ability to thrive in a digital world.
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