Keeping rural seniors connected

When a 92-year-old wakes up, rolls over and switches on their iPad every morning, you know something good has come from a project which investigates how technology can be used in remote and rural areas to improve the lives of older Australians.

South Australian home and community care provider, Murray Mallee Aged Care Group, was awarded funding for the project and spoke to DPS News about the initiative’s success.

Bernadette Boag, the organisation’s project officer, says “lovely stories” have emerged as a result of the technology project – led by researchers from the University of Adelaide.

“Grandparents have seen their grandchildren for the first time on [online video calling program] Skype and one of our participants has even become an avid online scrabble player!” Ms Boag says.

The project looks at the best ways of encouraging older people to adopt new technology in a “non-threatening” way.

Surfing the net, using Skype, email and social networking sites is reportedly keeping older people “connected” with their communities, the project report found.

Pictured is participant Rosemary Marks, from Bower, clutching her laptop computer in rural South Australia.

The three-year project, which ended in August, gave clients the opportunity to enjoy the devices in their own homes in a “gentle way”, according to Ms Boag.

“Many older Australians living in rural and remote areas just don’t know where to go,” she begins. “There is a digital divide – the rural person is definitely disadvantaged.”

Ms Boag wants to see more money spent on breaking the barrier between rural older Australians and the ‘outside’ world. She recommends a seniors’ bonus be awarded to those living in rural and remote communities to allow these disadvantaged groups to purchase and update technology to help them stay connected with families and friends.