ConnectAge is an initiative aimed at narrowing the digital divide with age-friendly technology

Description

ConnectAge is an initiative aimed at narrowing the digital divide by promoting connectivity through age-friendly technology. It recognises the importance of ensuring older adults have access to and can effectively use digital technology to participate in the digital age. Our objectives are to promote digital literacy and to enable older individuals to access the internet, email and popular apps as well as being able to communicate with friends and family. To Improve accessibility, by designing an easy to use interface and sim included tablet for areas with no WIFI. To engage community organisations and local Government by collaborating with Libraries, Age Friendly Social Housing, Health Age Friendly Homes, Community Outreach and Mental Health Services to integrate technology into their schemes. To conduct research and evaluation to understand the challenges faced by older adults.
ConnectAge empowers older individuals to embrace technology and fully participate in the digital world. Through collaboration with stakeholders and community organisations, the initiative strives to create a more inclusive and connected society for older people.

Aim of Initiative

The initiative aims to provide equal opportunities for older individuals to stay connected, access information, engage in social activities and enhance their overall quality of life, while eliminating social isolation.

Who is it aimed at

The initiative is aimed at older adults, specifically those who may face barriers in accessing and utilising digital technology. It targets individuals within the older adult population who may be less familiar technology or have limited digital literacy skills. The initiative recognises the importance of ensuring equal access and opportunities for older adults to stay connected and access information.

3 Steps critical to success

1. Conducted a comprehensive needs assessment to understand the specific requirements and challenges of older adults in accessing and using technology. Conducted trial and tests of over 150 older individuals and used their feedback to enhance the design of our technology.
2. Foster partnerships and collaboration with organisations and government agencies, that serve older adults, to ensure a collective effort in addressing the digital divide and become the digital inclusion choice for age-friendly digital initiatives. Engage with community organisations, retirement communities, and attend exhibitions to promote the benefits of technology.
3. Support and Training.
   Ongoing training and support for staff of organisations and community groups adopting the technology. Ongoing personal support and technical assistance for individual users of the tablet.

3 Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Ensuring that devices and interfaces are accessible to older individuals with diverse needs can be a complex task. Making sure the design was as easy to use as possible and ensuring all feedback was translated back into the design was a challenge which required ongoing collaboration with older individuals and our experts in inclusive design.
2. Engaging Older Adults. Encouraging older adults to embrace and participate in digital programmes can be a challenge. Overcoming resistance and skepticism requires ongoing support, training and outreach strategies to highlight the benefits of technology for social connection, information access and improved quality of life.
3. Initiatives like ConnectAge requires financial resources to develop and maintain digital programmes. Securing funding from Government agencies can be challenging in this competitive landscape.

3 Outcomes / Benefits

1. It is clear from the diversity of organisations that our technology, while initially developed for older people, is also relevant in other marginalised group settings. All project coordinators indicated they had purchased the product because of the user friendly aspects of the device, the large font, easy to use layout and colour coding design, making it easier for not only older people but people with literacy issues, visual impairment, cognitive impairment. Our technology is now being used in various groups and organisations including Alzheimer’s Ireland, Croi, Dementia Support Groups, HSE Support Groups, Meals on Wheels, Mens Sheds, Mental Health Groups.
2. The age-friendly tablet is now available in libraries across Ireland for people to borrow. Training and support has been given to libraries who partake in the lending scheme. This means the tablet is available to people who for financial reasons cannot become a digital citizen or who would rather try the product before purchasing it.
3. We are involved in Age-Friendly Government schemes across the country, including the Healthy Age Friendly Homes programme, our tablet is the tablet of choice for this programme which enables people to live longer at home. Working alongside HAFH and Healthy Ireland we have developed a health and wellness hub on the device which includes, healthy menus, appropriate exercises and memory games. We are also the technology of choice for a Clann Housing Scheme in Dublin and will be rolling out our technology into more schemes, allowing for older residents to stay connected and independent.