Seniors learn skills to stay connected

Classes cover use of messaging apps and how to take photos with smartphones

Classes teaching senior citizens how to use smartphones have been expanding rapidly at universities for the elderly in China on the back of strong demand.

Even though more senior citizens are ditching their old phones for smart ones, many still struggle to learn how to use new technologies.

Over the years, universities for the elderly have increased the number of classes teaching students how to use smartphones, which include using messaging apps, reading the news, taking photos and even online shopping.

Xie Yingzi, head of the publicity department at Hubei University for the Elderly, said it opened two classes in 2015 to teach students how to use smartphones.

Rising demand for smartphone instruction means the university now has 10 smartphone classes for 600 students and four photography classes for 140 students.

Zhu Huagen, president of Jianghan District University for the Elderly in Wuhan, Hubei province, said the school now has 11 classes teaching around 600 seniors how to use smartphones, up from two classes in 2015.

The senior citizens are really interested in the classes because they want to stay connected with their loved ones and not be left behind by society, Zhu added.

Chen Gong, who teaches smartphone classes at the Jianghan university, said, "The biggest challenge for us teaching senior students is that it is hard for them to learn new things, so we have to constantly repeat ourselves."

However, what they lack in memory, they make up for with strong interest and diligence.