Thursday, October 1, 2026
Seniors in Elmont say that accessing information about the community is becoming increasingly difficult as announcements move from traditional paper formats to digital platforms.
Gathering for a Senior Chat at the Elmont Memorial Library last Friday, seniors cited a lack of access to technology, an absence of help from young people, and disabilities that impair their ability to use computers and smartphones, as the causes of their struggles.
According to a 2024 Pew Research survey, 90 percent of seniors use the internet. That leaves 10 percent of a growing segment of the American population virtually unplugged.
Library member Cynthia Hervey, who comes from her home in Stewart Manor to join the Elmont library’s Friday morning Senior Chat, has physical obstacles that prevent her from transitioning to digital platforms. Hervey, 81, suffered a stroke 35 years ago, and cannot easily use computers and cellphones because of its lingering effects.
The parts of her brain that process and comprehend images and words, she explained, were among the areas impacted by her stroke. Information on paper, she said, is much easier for her to see and understand.
“If it’s something too technical or something I don’t know, then it’s hard for me,” Hervey said.
She added that hearing messages on a phone also poses a problem because there’s often no visual aid to help her understand what is being said.
Hervey is not alone. According to a 2024 BioMed Central Public Health study, only about 23 percent of disabled adults age 55 or older use the Internet.
Despite her disability, Hervey said, she doesn’t have much trouble making her way around town. She often walks to events like the Senior Chat, or utilizes Able-Ride, a shared-ride bus service for people with disabilities. The library is one of the main places she finds out what’s going on in the community.
Sheila McIsaac, 83, of Elmont, is a member of five senior groups in Elmont and West Hempstead. She drives into town almost every day, she said, and tends to find most of her information about local events in person.
Every once in a while, McIsaac said, she’ll call a venue about an event she’d like to attend, but will often be directed to a website. The problem is, she doesn’t own a computer. She does have a tablet, but she only uses it to play solitaire.
“I want information the old-fashioned way,” McIsaac said.
While Hervey has access to a smartphone and McIsaac has her tablet, that doesn’t mean they can easily use them to find information. They and other seniors noted that they don’t live with younger family members who could help them understand how to navigate technology and online platforms.
“It’s not easy,” George Blaha, 74, of Queens, said. “We’re all old. We all live in separate homes. We don’t hang out with the children or high school students.”
Blaha said he doesn’t have children or grandchildren, nor does he have television or Internet service in his Flushing home because it’s too expensive. As a result, he relies heavily on his smartphone.
But he acknowledged that other seniors might not have an easy time accessing technology or learning how to use it. They would benefit from traditional paper formats, he said, but those are harder to come by these days.
“Newspapers and fliers aren’t as popular as they were 15 or 20 years ago,” Blaha said. “Where do you find information? You need to know where to look for it.”
According to Blaha, he and other seniors value the information kiosks in the library building, because there they are more likely to find fliers and printed notices.
Blaha said that some towns, such as Valley Stream, send out newsletters and fliers in the mail.
Hervey agreed that Valley Stream has a good system of mailing out information about important community events. “It’s very concise and good,” she said.
Hervey stressed the importance of accommodating those with disabilities to ensure they are properly informed about what is going on in their communities. She added that she trusts information she receives in the mail more than the information she finds on her phone. At her age, she said, she is wary of being scammed, and feels safer when she can identify exactly where information is coming from.
Some research suggests that communities can help address the gap in information access by implementing more programs that teach seniors how to use technology.
A 2018 Journal of Medical Internet Research study found that programs that paired young adult mentors with seniors helped encourage social engagement, increase seniors’ confidence in using technology, and strengthen intergenerational connections.
But that doesn’t eliminate the immediate need for paper notices for seniors like Hervey and McIsaac, who hope to see the local community better accommodate their needs by increasing their access to traditional paper formats.
