Many of my older readers will remember pennies, even halfpennies, and perhaps the joy of finding a ‘thrupenny bit’ in the Christmas pudding. Ah, memories! And moneyboxes, and jars of coins we kept for special treats…. Now, even our banknotes are being phased out!

Our wallets and purses are becoming redundant, and these days, most of us now use only a ‘card’. Perhaps, like me, you have a Debit card (not a Credit card), which never has more than a week’s supply of money on it. I top-it-up online as needed with no transaction delay. That means if I lose my card – and report it promptly, I need never lose very much money to card misuse.

And here’s another red-hot tip: get an Apple iPad (or any ‘Tablet’ computer). Doesn’t even need to be the latest. If you have a family, it’s odds-on that someone will have, or will soon have, an unwanted model. As trade-ins, they are usually of not much value. But, if you can’t source a second-hand one, lash out and buy a used or, preferably, a new one!

Such a tablet computer will be a great investment, especially if you do it now. Become familiar with it while you have all your wits about you, and the enjoyment will stay with you for years to come. Just do it. It will transform your later years, wherever you are. The iPad is totally portable – ready to go with you, anywhere. And there is an abundance of free lessons and support groups to help you master its use.

You probably already have a smartphone (maybe a family hand-me-down) and a ‘plan’ which includes a data allowance. For example, my mobile phone plan costs me $16/month with unlimited Aussie calls, and 20Gb data allowance for internet access. For casual use, that’s more than adequate (I don’t watch movies on the phone). Your iPad can use that phone data, or your home network, if you have one. All wirelessly. No cables or connections (except to plug it in to top up its battery). And, when visiting, you can usually login to the internet via a Care home’s ‘network’, too.

Dementia Australia have a free App for tablets: A Better Visit app | Dementia Australia which I enjoyed with Dorothy many times when she was in care. It is a collection of games and activities, and a good example of creatively using an iPad when visiting someone with Alzheimer’s.

I suggest using your existing computer (or a friend’s) to easily find more information and free lessons to help you quickly become familiar with an iPad. I reckon, once you see how versatile and easy a ‘tablet’ is, you will soon be ready to ditch that old laptop (it’s probably running Windows 10 which is to be abandoned in in a year or two, anyway).

If you have some vision impairment, another advantage of an iPad is that you can easily resize and enlarge type size, icons, and pictures on the screen. And you can download books to read, or listen to, from your local Library, too. Of course you can also watch movies, read newspapers, exchange emails, enjoy family messaging – and the list goes on. Oh, and it’s a camera, too.

See what I mean? It truly can transform your lonely elder years. You can’t start too early, but you can start too late! If you haven’t begun your journey on the iPad road, you really should make a start, and now is a good time. I have no commercial affiliation with the Apple company, I just love my iPad because it opens the world to me.

An electronic pad is a useful tool and, especially, an easy companion as we travel alone or with a partner along our otherwise sometimes lonely retirement road……