Digital Connections

Description

Connecting Older Adults with Technology, supporting them on their journey to get confident and competent in using technology. Tipperary Age Friendly are working with Family Resource Centres and Community Groups in Tipperary to address digital poverty and support older adults in becoming confident and competent in the use of technology. The Digital Connections scheme success is the model on how we are operating. Within each pilot site the host organisation identifies a champion. The host organisation is provided with 5 devices whether that is directly or supported to achieve funding to provide same. The champion with each organisation is responsible within each pilot site to support the 4 older adults to get confident and competent in using the device. The champions meet every 6 to 8 weeks in a virtual capacity with Tipperary County Council, Tipperary ETB, Acorn the device provider and Generation Tech who are a team of volunteers who will support older adults over the phone in using devices. This champion network looks at how we can support the older adults, challenges that we face, any technical issues faced and what training and supports are required. Tipperary ETB have committed to providing training to each group when restrictions enable this to take place. Tipperary Library services are also partners will also support in terms of training but also in terms of content and will engage online in relation to programs that they provide. An Garda Síochána will also engage on the project through their community gardai as a point of contact with the older adults in their community, this will be piloted by Garda Maureen Finnerty, based in the Nenagh Garda District. Tipperary Sports Partnership have already run a program targeting those engaged with the devices and to the wider older adult cohort to engage in physical activity. The HSE will provide programs like Living Well Programme and other supports to the older adults engaged in our host organisations. This will build over time as we establish the interests and needs of the individuals engaged on the devices. Tipperary County Council are developing an Age Friendly Calendar. This calendar will reflect content of interest to the older audience from a cultural, educational, physical activity and health perspective. We are working with Cliffrum Media and Acorn in relation to notifications to the devices to provide details on the calendar of activities and that will also enable the host organisations issue messages to their device holders. The Age Friendly Calendar links can be found on www.tipperarycoco.ie and https://www.whatsonintipp.ie/ so that older adults not engaged in the scheme can still engage with the content. If you have content that you would like to add to this calendar please email

Aim of Initiative

Who is it aimed at

Older Adults who have not engaged in a digital capacity before

Steps critical to success

1. Partnership approach
2. Support from Local Voluntary Groups
3. Support from Local agencies to support community volutneers

Challenges in Planning / Delivery

1. Covid restrictions and not being able to meet in person
2. change in personnel in some of the community groups with champion

Outcomes / Benefits

1. Older adults not previously engaged digitally now engaged online
2. great partnership at local level with community and agencies
3. great sharing across network