When people get older, their social world changes.
their social world changes. Friends die, partners fall away,
Children live in other places, the familiar environment slowly dissolves. For
many then begin to live in smaller circles, sometimes in complete isolation.
Especially in rural regions, where distances are great and offers are rare,
this withdrawal intensifies. But loneliness is not just an emotional
emotional experience, it is also a health risk. Studies show that
loneliness can have similar consequences to smoking or obesity. It
weakens the immune system, increases the risk of depression and has a negative
and has a negative effect on cognitive performance.
Digital skills offer a key in this situation,
no less important than the front door key to your own home. They
access to social contacts, information, education, culture and support systems.
to support systems. Anyone who knows how to use a smartphone, tablet or laptop
have the opportunity to retain a degree of self-determination and freedom.
However, this is where a deep divide becomes apparent. While younger people
grow up with digital media as a matter of course, many older people
people experience technology as something alien, unapproachable, sometimes even threatening.
The thought of downloading an app, registering in an online group
group or starting a video call is intimidating. There is often
there is often a lack of patient support, understandable language or opportunities to
building trust in small steps.
Digital world and
Participation
The relevance of digital skills in old age is multi-layered.
skills in old age is multi-layered. It concerns personal
personal well-being, social participation and the question of how we as a
community deal with the growing number of older people.
Digital skills are not a luxury, they are a basic social right.
basic social right. Those who remain excluded not only lose
entertainment opportunities, but also access to essential information.
Public authorities, health services, social services - many things are shifting to the
Internet. Those who don't keep up here become spectators in a world in which they
should actually be playing in.
Why is now the right time to take this topic seriously?
seriously? Because society is ageing. In Europe, the proportion of over
65-year-olds will increase significantly over the next few years. At the same time
digitalization is progressing at a rapid pace. The gap between those who
those who can keep up and those who are left behind is growing every day. If we do not invest now
invest now, we risk a new form of exclusion that is more severe
than physical distance: digital isolation.
Lifelong learning in order to
to stay on the ball and the consequences of not doing so...
Older people who do not have access to the digital world
cannot attend online medical appointments, can no longer carry out banking transactions
independently and lose contact with friends and family
family members who have long been communicating via digital channels. Grandchildren
send photos via Messenger, meetings are organized via WhatsApp,
Information spreads via social media. Those who are not present here,
experience a painful exclusion that reinforces the feeling of "no longer belonging".
The consequences can be condensed into five key points:
- Digital skills create participation, even if mobility is limited.
is restricted. A simple video call can open up worlds if the journey to the
to the café or club has become too arduous.
- They provide access to community, information and education. Whether
online courses, news portals or virtual reading circles - the possibilities
are diverse.
- They reduce dependency and promote self-determination. Those who
online retain control over their finances and do not have to ask others for help.
don't have to ask others for help.
- They are a prerequisite for modern support services such as telemedicine or digital care platforms.
telemedicine or digital care platforms. Especially in rural areas, this can
save lives or at least make them easier.
- They strengthen the feeling of continuing to be an active part of society.
society. Anyone who gets involved, joins in the discussion, shares their experiences
experiences remain visible and effective.
Staying Connected -
Digital skills as the key to dignity in old age
It is not enough to distribute devices.
to distribute. Technology must be explained, practiced and accompanied. Preferably in
familiar environments, with clear language, repeated exercises and patient helpers.
helpers. Successful projects show that intergenerational learning
is particularly effective. Grandchildren who support grandparents in using smartphones
not only create knowledge, but also closeness. Equally important are
equally important are volunteer initiatives that offer training or community centers that serve as contact points.
The promotion of digital skills in old age is also a political issue.
political issue. Strategies are needed that systematically address this area.
address this area. Digital participation must not depend on your wallet. If tablets
and internet connections are too expensive, then the benefits will remain a privilege
Another aspect is the psychological dimension. Many older
people are afraid of making mistakes. They are afraid of breaking something or
to make a fool of themselves. This inhibition threshold must be taken seriously.
Training programs should therefore convey a culture of encouragement. Every
click is a step. Every small action is a success. Those who experience recognition here
builds self-confidence and develops the joy of discovery.
We should also not underestimate the opportunities that digital
spaces offer, especially for older people. Virtual discussion groups,
online self-help groups or digital storytelling cafés create places where experiences
experiences can be shared. People who live far away from each other geographically
from each other can get in touch with each other. Especially in the phase in which
the digital world opens up a second space of freedom.
There is an important point here: digital skills do not automatically solve loneliness.
loneliness automatically. They are no substitute for personal closeness, for
a hug, for drinking coffee together. But they are a bridge. They
expand the possibilities of keeping in touch and can significantly reduce the risk of
isolation.
When we look to the future, we have to ask ourselves:
What kind of society do we want to be? One that leaves people to fend for themselves in old age
alone, or one that supports them in using tools that enable participation?
enable participation? The answer should be clear.
The development of digital skills in old age is a contribution to
dignity. It shows that we do not push people onto a siding as soon as
older, but that we continue to see them as active co-creators.
And it is a contribution to justice, because it ensures that
progress does not divide, but unites.
In the end, it's about
something simple: no one should feel superfluous or disconnected in old age.
disconnected. Those who understand technology stay connected - with others, with society
with others, with society, with yourself.
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