Many senior citizens own cell phones. But when it comes to operating the digital devices, matters get a bit tricky.

"Well, the thing is, on my phone, the letters are too little. I can't see them!" exclaimed Helen Brandon, an elderly resident of Pico Rivera, Calif.

To help the older generation bridge the technological barriers of the 21st century, CareMore senior facility in Downey, Calif. has offered texting classes.

Instructor Cheryl McEntire taught seniors the basics of texting, and in the process, gave them a new way to reach out to their friends and family.

"They don't know how to get to the texting," she explained. "Once I show them how to do it, then they actually are opened up to a new world they didn't even know they were carrying around."

"This is a new toy for us," laughed Dora Lopez Juarez, one of McEntire's elderly pupils.

McEntire isn't just teaching her seniors the technology behind texting.  She's also teaching them the language.

"I looked online and I saw there were about 20 pages of abbreviations. Well, who's going to know all that?" asked Glenn Brazeal, another student.

To help clear up the confusion, each senior is given a one-page cheat sheet of texting shorthand words and phrases.

Delighted, Juarez said, "Now maybe we are going to do it faster than they do."