Hi, looking for something that appeal to "senior citizens"How do I find their likes and dislikes?

Question

Would like to work from home, but would like to deal with retired people that is looking for things they can buy or get via the internet.What are my chances of getting in contact with these people.Would like to provide a service that they would not have to leave home to get.Are there any retirees who can help me get started or point me in a certain direction?

Answer 1

Contact your local Area Agency on Aging. These groups are one of the best kept secrets around for older Americans and their families. The folks there specialize in listening to the concerns of seniors and their families and truly know about benefits and programs available to seniors and their caregivers. The staff there could visit with you about your ideas and tell you about some of the unmet needs of seniors in the community where you live.There is an Area Agency on Aging serving every community of the United States.
The other thing to know is that Area Agencies on Aging often have services and connections to programs that can help family caregivers.

You can call toll-free 1-800-677-1116 to find how to contact the Area Agency on Aging serving where you live.

It is true that most seniors are not linked to the world of computers and high tech at this point. This was a significant reason why there was so much confusion about Medicare Part D throughout the country. This situation will gradually change for seniors needing services and is already changing for many of the family members providing unpaid caregiving to seniors.

If you do contact your local Area Agency on Aging and like the help that they give you, let your local county officials and your folks in Congress know. Or consider making a contribution to support their work. Area Agencies on Aging don't have big budgets-- and appropriations for the Older Americans Act, the legislation that makes this help possible-- have not increased significantly for about 25 years!

Hope this helps! Best wishes and Good luck!

Answer 2

I am not a retiree but I see a lot of places where you can find retirees. For instance, there are senior citizen centres everywhere. Put a notice up in your church. There are senior citizen apartment buildings. You could give a talk at any of these places (serve coffee, etc.) and ask attendees to fill out a survey.

Also, you could give a class about the Internet at adult education centers (all ages) and label it especially for retirees.

As a last thought: I notice there are a lot of people giving seminars for retirees on estate planning, etc. See if you can partner with one of them so you can give your presentation on your topic.

Good luck.
amadeus

Answer 3

Your premise is slightly flawed, as most seniors either don't have Internet access OR they are extremely suspicious of scammers. My 85-year-old dad wouldn't shop in the Internet if I paid him to do so; he will mark any e-mail from any unknown source as Spam, too.

Seniors are a good market for services and products but you have to re-think how you contact them and market to them.