Ensuring active involvement of the elderly in social activities within North Rhine-Westphalia is crucial
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In an increasingly digital world, ensuring that seniors are not left behind is becoming a global priority. The importance of digital participation for seniors' social lives and daily life management has been emphasized, and the establishment of digital learning and experience centers is seen as a crucial step towards achieving this.
Germany's SPD state parliamentarian Sonja Bongers has highlighted the need for opportunities for digital use and qualification for seniors, and has proposed the establishment of local service centers for seniors without online access. According to Bongers, state support is essential for the creation and qualification of these centers.
These service centers would provide devices with internet access for independent use, and would be staffed by trained personnel or volunteers who could offer technical support and regular digital training. The centers aim to help seniors overcome the risks of being left behind by digitization, and to address the digital exclusion of seniors.
One example of a successful digital inclusion initiative for seniors is the "Smart Silver" Program in Hong Kong. The program involves non-profit elderly service organizations visiting seniors across the city to promote digital living and encourage technology use. The "Smart Silver" Digital Inclusion Programme for Elders is supported by a $100 million fund, which subsidizes NGOs to establish community-based help desks in 18 districts. These desks offer fixed-point, regular digital training and technical support, specifically targeting elders aged 60 or above, especially those living alone or in older districts/public housing.
Similarly, the Digital Inclusivity Program in Saudi Arabia aims to increase independent digital access for elderly people and those with disabilities. The program emphasizes enhancing digital literacy, bridging the digital divide, and improving ease of access to government and public digital services for older populations.
The UK's Digital Inclusion Action Plan focuses on skills training, device and data affordability, confidence-building, and breaking down barriers to digital services. Local centers and community hubs that offer device access and tailored support are seen as critical to success.
In the United States, digitalLIFT provides technology classes and devices to older adults and other underserved groups, working with trainers and organizations to provide digital literacy training, support, and access to devices.
These initiatives demonstrate a global recognition of the importance of both physical and digital support infrastructures—such as training centers and local access points—to foster digital inclusion among older populations. By providing seniors with the tools and support they need to navigate the digital world, we can help reduce social exclusion due to digitization and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in our increasingly digital society.
References:
- Smart Silver Programme for Elders
- Digital Inclusivity Program
- Digital Inclusion Action Plan
- digitalLIFT
- To foster digital inclusion among seniors, Germany's SPD state parliamentarian Sonja Bongers proposes the establishment of local service centers, focusing on providing devices with internet access and offering regular digital training and technical support.
- In the UK, the Digital Inclusion Action Plan targets seniors by prioritizing skills training, device and data affordability, and the development of local centers and community hubs that offer device access and tailored support.
- The "Smart Silver" Program in Hong Kong, a successful digital inclusion initiative for seniors, supports a $100 million fund that subsidizes non-profit elderly service organizations to establish community-based help desks in various districts, offering regular digital training and technical support for seniors aged 60 or above.
