Online access for older people in sheltered housing Thursday, February 25, 2010 - 16:47

Two thirds of over 65s in sheltered housing don't have online access. Get Digital will provide a digital literacy training programme to help older people living in sheltered housing to make the most of new technologies on offer. It will offer grants to Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) to help set up appropriate facilities and provide the support needed to ensure residents can make full use of them. Local schools will also link up with sheltered housing schemes so that young and old can learn together.

The launch was the first in a series of regional events, to help provide those interested in participating - RSLs, managers of similar schemes, organisations which could support the programme - with:

• information on the Get Digital programme;
• an outline of the benefits of participating;
• guidance on how to take part; and
• information on programme resources.

More and more services are going online so Get Digital means that the thousands in sheltered housing are not isolated and left behind. By the end of March 2011, the programme will:

• work with 195 sheltered housing schemes nationwide - including 81 schemes in rural areas - providing around 7,800 residents internet access;
• extend internet access to a further 300 schemes and up to 20,000 residents in total;
• develop communal IT facilities in sheltered housing schemes making technology easily accessible to the 600,000 people who live in sheltered housing as well as others in the local community;
• provide resources including expert Scheme training and Support to boost residents' computer literacy; and
• promote and support ‘Get Digital partnerships' between sheltered housing and local schools and other groups of young people for ‘intergenerational learning activities'.

Susan Easton, NIACE Project Manager for Get Digital, said:

"Thousands of older people are not connected to the internet or don't have the skills to use it. Those who are not able to access the digital world are missing out on its many benefits and risk becoming excluded from society."

"NIACE is delighted to launch the Get Digital programme, which will give grants and support to sheltered housing schemes, helping them to offer digital access and support to residents and increase their digital participation. Those interested in taking part can find more information on the Get Digital website."

Emma Solomon, Managing Director Digital Unite and Get Digital Delivery Executive said:

"Digital Unite has been delivering digital literacy programmes to older residents in sheltered housing for over seven years. Our experience over those years shows us that the benefits of these activities are huge, not just for participating residents with regard to their digital literacy, but also their general well being from the learning and social activity integral these programmes."

"Benefits also extend to staff at sheltered housing schemes, landlords and the wider community as digital literacy activities open up new areas of communication, participation and socialisation. Digital Unite is absolutely delighted to be working with NIACE on a project with older people in sheltered housing on this scale."