WEB ACCESS
also be used on laptops and computers (WhatsApp has a computer app too).
When using a PC or laptop, open a search engine browser, type in the name of the app, click the link to the official site, then follow the instructions.
You’ll need to have a (free) Microsoft or Google account. Apple’s FaceTime is also easy to use, so long as you and the person you’re calling both have
Apple devices. A good desktop desktop alternative which doesn’t require an account is Whereby, a website which allows you to create an online “room” for audio and video conversations and meetings.
Go to whereby.com, enter your name and email address, check your email for a verification code, then start using the free version of the service. You will have to create a name for your “room”, which will have a unique web address that can be shared with up to three other guests.
LOCAL NETWORKING
IF YOU have a Facebook account, you may be amazed at how many local groups you can find. Click on the icon, and type in the name of your city neighbourhood, town or village in the search box at the top of the page, then click on the Groups tab. It will bring up a list.As long as they’re open groups, you can join right away. Many have been set up specifically to help older people through the coronavirus crisis. Other local support may be available via discussion sites such as Reddit or neighbourhood networking site Nextdoor. And YouTube is a fantastic resource for “how to” guides. You can find everything from tech tips to fixing domestic appliances. It’s worth googling your local area see whether it has a website. You may be able to sign up for local newsletters, and discover where help is being offered. Check if your GP has a surgery website. You may be able to download an app to book appointments and organise repeat prescriptions.
pictured below, ESSENTIALS AND LEISURE
to
IF YOU’RE not used to shopping online, it’s worth knowing you can arrange a delivery with nearly all the same shops you use on the High Street.
Almost all major British retailers offer an online service, and can be found by entering their names into any search engine, such as Google. You’ll need to set up an account with the shop and provide payment details.
Make sure you are on the official site of a brand you trust – look for the little padlock picture in the left-hand side of the browser’s address bar at the top of your screen. There are currently long waits for food delivery slots, so also try local specialists, maybe your local butcher or a chemist offering a delivery service.
Amazon is the biggest online retailer, and it may be worth paying the £79 per year annual Prime subscription.This will give you fast free deliveries of most of what you order online and access to Prime’s TV content, which can be played on almost any internet-connected TV or computer. Prime also includes thousands of eBooks that can be read on a Kindle, or via the Kindle app. Now might be a good time to consider an e-reading device.
The possibilities for online entertainment can be overwhelming—so, if you’re inexperienced, it’s worth starting with the kind of things you already watch and enjoy.
Most major broadcasters have apps and websites; you can play classic games – chess, backgammon, whist and bridge – online. Whatever your need, there will almost always be help online. You can try meditation with the free app headspace. com; learn a language with the free duolingo.com app; and find free yoga and home workout videos on YouTube, and much more besides as your confidence grows.