Help at hand for elderly left out in internet cold

Help is at hand for elderly left out in the internet cold

For every 100 elderly people in South Canterbury, 40 are being deprived of the banking, IRD, social, council, pharmaceutical, education and entertainment facilities they are entitled to, an elderly Timaru internet user estimates.

Alma Wilson was using her “personal and unofficial estimate” based on her experience in helping the elderly unravel the complexities of the internet to show that unless service providers changed the ways they provided information, a significant portion of the community was destined to remain out of touch with the society they lived in and so dearly want to become a full part of.

And she knows how that feels.

The seventy-one-year-old was once one of the “outcasts”. As an elderly person, she was once unable to use a computer and access the internet. And she knows just how important the internet has become in our daily lives.

“For me it came to a head when I was asked by IRD to complete forms online,” Mrs Wilson said.

“Heavens. What a mess.

“Once I actually managed to find the website, which was a mission in itself, I couldn't locate the forms and even if I had, I was scared to fill them in, in case I said something wrong.

“You know how intolerant tax people can be if you get it wrong.”

She said the alternative to the internet, long protracted exercises in telephone button pushing following digital instructions with a human voice prompt, was equally frustrating.

She asks that service providers review the heavy dependence they place on the internet, “often just to save staff”, or provide easier menu-driven sites and help programmes.

Although the internet is not the only place to get information, for some people without access to a car or newspaper, there are limited options.

And now with service providers such as bankers, real estate companies, government departments, retailers, schools, workplaces and news agencies increasing their presence on the internet and reducing human contact with customers and clients, society risks creating a new information-poor – the technically illiterate elderly, Mrs Wilson says.

Communication is a human right and the internet is now so crucial for communication that internationally it is increasingly being considered a basic utility like power or water. It is becoming the new literacy.

But many of our elderly are frightened of it, she says.

“For every 100 elderly people in South Canterbury, 40 are being deprived of facilities through fear and lack of knowledge and cyberspace remains a place they cannot visit.

“Learning to use a computer has now become a question of survival. Our elderly must learn or get left behind.”

Mrs Wilson took the learning path, quietly upskilling herself and now she and her partner Ken Durkin, also 71, do their own internet banking, use the TAB websites for a flutter, trade shares on the stock exchange and travel the world extensively, all on bookings made on their own computer in the comfort of their own home.

Mrs Wilson also helps other elderly people gain proficiency with their computers on a volunteer basis.

But the elderly community also has another powerful ally in their bid to make sense of computers.

Aoraki Polytechnic is acutely aware of the internet knowledge vacuum among the elderly and other inexperienced computer users and has designed courses to help them keep up, delivered in a friendly and non-threatening environment with tutors who often work at the one-on-one level.

Free Computing co-ordinator Carol Soal said the courses can solve the problem for the elderly safely, easily, at no cost and at a pace to suit the learner.

Some elderly may risk being cast adrift by their fear of the internet, she said.

“That is so upsetting when with expert help they will find there is little to fear,” Mrs Soal said.

The elderly were not the only group of concern, she said.

“We still have a large number of people living rurally that can't get good internet access and we have people on low incomes who are struggling to obtain computers and access.”

Mrs Soal said the advantage with polytechnic tuition is that experts were able to show computer users how to stay safe.

“Our network of ongoing support doesn’t just cover the courses, but can offer help down the track too. For example we recently had a chap come in who was trying to apply for a job online and was having problems uploading his CV. We showed him how and ensured it was done.

“Our message to the elderly, and to all new computer users is when you come to us you will be among people who understand.”

For more information on Aoraki’s Free Computing courses call 0800 426 725 ext 749 and speak to one of the friendly support team.

ENDS

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