How to involve our elderly acquaintances in the digital world?

Füzes Nóra | psychologist, junior consultant

Füzes Nóra | psychologist, junior consultant

Grandma on the net

-or how to get your older loved ones involved in the digital world-

I’m probably not alone in feeling a little tense when older friends and family members ask me over and over again, “Norika, how do I attach a picture to my email?”. While the regular recurrence of such questions can be frustrating, it is important to introduce our older friends to the possibilities of the digital world. How is this possible? In this article I’ll find out.

Raiffeisen Bank’s Digital Learning Week took place at the end of May, where I had the chance to talk to Andrea Szilassi about digital education for older people. Andrea is an IT librarian, digital world consultant and founder of the NetNagyi Klub (www.netnagyiklub.hu). The club is almost unique in Hungary in its focus on digital education of the boomer generation (1943-1965) from TV to smartphones. The educational palette includes topics such as the conscious use of social media, online shopping and banking, digital photo editing, online appointment booking and administration. This wide-ranging education programme not only provides material knowledge for those who want to learn, but can also be a community-based cure for loneliness in old age. Both the pace and the topics are tailored to the needs of the participants, ensuring the right depth of learning.

During the conversation and preparation with Andrea, I was surprised to learn how neglected the topic of digital education for older people is in Hungary. This means that our loved ones and friends are not only missing out on a wealth of important opportunities and information, but can also become more exposed to our hectic and sensitive world. When it comes to age scams, Andrea reassured us that this is not as prominent and common a problem as we might first think. Since

all generations leave their mark with each click they make,

so, in my opinion, the elderly are no more exposed than the young. Indeed, we hear terrible stories, but that is not the crux of the digital era, it is the lack of opportunity and help that the online world could provide for our elders at the cost of some extra learning.

Digital inclusion is not made easier by the shyness of the elderly and the impatience of the environment. We often take it unreasonably for granted that

the ability to “caress” a screen is a given for everyone.

This is clearly a misconception, so the question may arise as to what our role is in the digital presence of our older loved ones. Should we teach them? Should we enrol grandma in a course? Should it be the responsibility of larger companies to produce products and product specifications that can be understood without any background knowledge? Both the questions and the answers may require complex explanations, which this article does not attempt, but one thing is certainly true:

the environment plays an undeniable role in the digital education of older people.

It is worth asking ourselves what can WE do to create a more accepting learning environment? What do they need? What would make them more effective? Once we have found our own answers, let us try to approach them with patience and understanding, so that we can overcome our sense of shame and live together in a healthier and more digitally mature age.

Source: www.netnagyiklub.hu