digital inclusion & older people

Digital inclusion & older peopleThe challenges, myths and successes of getting over-65s digitally enabled

Rob Mansfield

Talking points

• General figures

• Changing generations

• Digital inclusion: the facts

• The barriers

• What’s worked

• Where next?

We live in an ageing societyToday in the UK

•~15m people 60+

•There are more people over 60 than under 18

•By 2030, over-60s will hit the 20m mark

•Over-85s are predicted to double in the next 23 years

Look around you

•1 in 5 of us will reach the age of 100

Changing generations

My nan

1975

• Rotary phone

• Box brownie

• CRT TV

• Library books

• Chatting to neighbours at the club

• Playing cards

My mum

2015

• Digital photography

• iPhone

• Tablet

• Kindle

• Ancestry.com

• Facebook

• Candy crush

Digital inclusion: the facts• Of the 5.9m adults who’ve never used the internet, half (3m) are 75+

• Only 1 in 3 people aged 75+ used internet in last 3 months (compared with 86% overall – 44m)

• 7 in 10 people aged 65-74 are recent internet users

However, non-users aged 75+ have decreased from 76% to 61% since Q2 2011

All figures here - ONS Statistical Bulletin: Internet Users 2015 [5/15]

When all you want is a coffee!

Basic digital skills

What are basic digital skills?

1) Managing information

2) Communicating

3) Transacting

4) Problem-solving

5) Creating

Go On UK (and its partners) definitions – Nov 2015

What are the barriers?

So why aren’t these people going digital?• A limited understanding of the internet means a limited grasp of both benefits and

drawbacks.

• Non-users aren’t typically ‘anti-internet’ – they knew it was a ‘good thing’

• Benefits, though, were seen as relevant to others and not to them

• They’re a generation not raised on the internet, so not natural to pick it up

All quotes and data from Age UK’s Life Offline report

More reasons for not being online• Saving time or avoiding

leaving the house is not considered important

• Concerns over security, credit card fraud, inability to correct a mistake easily, missing out on bargains online

• A loss of f2f interaction, ignoring ppl in the same room

• Keeps you indoors, encourageslaziness

All quotes and data from Age UK’s Life Offline report

Day-to-day routine is key to a good life• Approach has developed over

time to fit into their lives – now considered convenient

• Shopping trips are a motivatorto getting out of the house – impromptu chats good.

• Feel comforted by familiarityof shops and staff – helpsto make informed decisions

• New technology makes themfeel embarrassed, vulnerableand confused

All quotes and data from Age UK’s Life Offline report

The emotions are the key barrier• Frustration

• Impotence

• Vulnerability

• Patronised

All quotes and data from Age UK’s Life Offline report

Tell us something positive

All is not lostFor many older people, it’s now a way of life

• Social contact

• Day-to-day activities

• General interest

• Entertainment

• Travel

• Work / volunteering

Down Memory LaneFunded by a Google Impact Award, across 6 areas of the UK

- Focussed on reminiscence of ‘40s, ‘50s & ‘60s as a way of drawing in older people and getting them interested

- Pop-up events in a variety of venues, run by local Age UKs

- Weren’t billed as technology events: drew people in via old-fashioned sweets, fashion clips on tablets

- Also ran ‘taster’ and ‘experience’ events in same 6 areas.

- Reached more than 5,000 people

The benefits realised- Improved confidence (over 90% reported this)

- Gained and developed new skills (90% positive feedback)

- Continued to use new knowledge and skills

- Stimulated to learn more (some, not all)

- Sense of achievement

“I’m not this silly old guy walking around not knowing what [I’m] doing. I can do it once shown properly. ”

What next?- Around half of 165 local Age UKs offer technology training/classes – this relies

mainly on volunteers, plus additional admin support. Most rarely charge (and rely on donations) Cost and resource is the main issue

- Technology continues to change: tablets are brilliant for older people, but the cost is still potentially prohibitive

- Discover why people who haven’t used it recently have stopped

- Working to help older people manage their own care, using technology

- Investment in digital infrastructure, eg high-speed broadband

- Not completely exclude those who aren’t connected: maintain a level of access for all

What can you do?Find out how excluded your area is:

http://www.go-on.co.uk/resources/heatmap/

Become a digital champion - upskill your nearest and dearest:http://www.go-on.co.uk/get-involved/basic-digital-skills/

Volunteer: http://www.ageuk.org.uk/volunteer

Thank you!

@robram

rob.mansfield@ageuk.org.uk

www.linkedin.com/in/robmansfield