In a week that Jeremy Hunt announced a new initiative to combat the isolation and loneliness experienced by millions of people it does seem extraordinary that so few local authorities and Health and Wellbeing Boards are exploring how digital technology can connect people and communities. With an increasing number of web and mobile based applications from simple information to more complex care management tools digital technology has the potential to transform the delivery of care and support in communities. It is fair to comment that access to high speed broadband will be an essential element to realising the full potential of digital technology for providing.
An impressive amount of research has been undertaken and reports produced to explore the challenges, barriers and opportunities of encouraging older people to use the internet and digital technology to live more independent and fulfilling lives. The internet and digital technology has a very valuable role to play in providing access to services and support to those who have difficulty accessing them in the offline world.
Recent studies have linked internet use to mental health problems and loneliness among young people but recent research from the University of Alabama shows that older people who utilize the internet for social purposes are less likely to suffer from depression
“Technology is a vital part of human existence. They show us that the right tools, in the right hands, can help everyone, regardless of our frailties, to achieve our true potential and advance as a civilisation.” Professor Stephen Hawking accepting his AbilityNet ‘Excellence in Accessibility Award’ at the Technology4Good awards September 2012
I would like to introduce you to just a few examples of exciting and cost effective innovations which could be promoted by local authorities. Many more example are included in my forthcoming eBook “The Click Guide to Digital Technology for Care”
DropBy is an interactive website for people over 60 and their families. It is designed to help keep older people ‘in touch’ by providing a secure place for the over 60s to meet both online and in real life. Joining DropBy can provide a life-line for those who live alone, in residential care or who are feeling isolated. Membership is free and privacy is a priority. Twitter @MaryBDropBy
Casserole Club is a food sharing network, bringing local communities together around home-cooked food. Currently being piloted in Surry there are plans to extend the service across the country. There are a lot of people cooking food who would be happy to cook a bit extra to share with isolated neighbours who would appreciate a home cooked meal. The goal of Casserole is to connect the two using online and offline connections. This is a great way for local communities to tackle social isolation. Twitter @Casserole_Club
Hear Murtz Abidi founder of the Casserole Club talking about the inspiration behind Casserole on the Disruptive Social Care podcast.
The Good Gym makes it easy for people to combine exercise with doing good in their local community. The Good Gym unlocks volunteering potential by channelling the energy that people spend on exercising and turning it into positive social action. It was set up to connect elderly and isolated local residents with a runner on a mission: to get fit, do something useful and to provide social interaction. The Good Gym currently operates in East London.
Twitter @goodgym
Mindings uses technology and social media to enable people to send personal captioned photos. text messages and calendar reminders to a digital display instantly from a mobile phone. This is especially important when families are widely dispersed and want an easy way of keeping in touch and connected whether they are living at home, in residential care, in hospital or in different parts of the world. Twitter @MindingsStu
Update 3rd December 2012. Delighted to hear that Mindings has recently won £100,000 of funding to pilot the service within a local integrated health and social care system in the Midlands and East of England.
“I’m thrilled that the potential of Mindings has been recognised. My co-developer Ian Pleasance and I are incredibly excited about working with DACS, Age UK and the East of England local authorities to connect families and help combat loneliness and social isolation!” Stuart Arnott Mindings Founder
I understand that accessing and learning about the digital world can be a challenge for many individuals. Research shows that learning in the later stages of life can boost confidence, give residents a more positive outlook on life and delay the onset of dementia. While some older people have a good grasp of how to use computers already, many lack confidence in their ability to learn something new.
Gen2Gen is an intergenerational IT mentoring scheme, which involves young people working on a one to one basis with Abbeyfield residents to help them access digital technology and social media. UK Youth is providing training for young volunteers. These young volunteers will then support older people in Abbeyfield to use the internet, continue their hobbies and interests and stay in contact with friends and family. Twitter @ukyv and @TheAbbeyfield
Alive is using digital technology to help older people in residential care to re-live a wealth of experiences and achievements and reinvigorate past interests. Identifying shared experiences and interests creates a focus for conversation, helping introverted, isolated people to join in and connect with both care home staff and other residents. Twitter @aliveactivities
Chill4usCarers provides a support forum run by volunteer family carers and ex carers. Social media is used very actively to raise awareness and support for carers. The Carers’ forum offers information, news and views and the online chat room is open 24 hours a day. Chill4usCarers organises Computers4carers which provides free computers for carers. Twitter @Chill4usCarers
Quite simply what people need are signposts to help them explore what technology products and services are available, both through statutory services or to purchase independently. A critical factor for organisations is ensuring that internal structures and culture are designed to embrace change and foster a willingness to learn new skills and engage with digital technology. The many innovations being supported by funders suggest there is no shortage of ideas for applying digital technology to the challenging problems confronting society including isolation.
We have developed the Care in a Digital Age programme to help public sector bodies explore the potential of the internet and digital technology to join up all of the different innovations which have the potential to transform lives. Do contact me if you would like your local authority or Health and Wellbeing Board to be involved in this exciting initiative.
bonklesoul
Ermy
shirleyayres
Connecting Social Care and Social Media 
Well done, Shirley. It is REALLY useful to bring these fab resources together in such a handy list. As you say, “accessing and learning about the digital world can be a challenge for many individuals” and some older people “lack confidence in their ability to learn something new”.
As you know, My 90 year old Mum has written a very popular blog about the challenges of an ever more digital society: http://bit.ly/Qg3fS5
I think the way forward involves nudging and really helping people to try something new and for them to see the BENEFITS for themselves (as these approaches do) combined with genuine sensitivity and recognition of how hard change can be at any age, far less in advanced years.
I am hoping I can get Mum to write a regular blog series as writing is “her thing” … and it is such a short step from writing to blogging. Watch this space 🙂
Thanks Gill and delighted to hear that your mum may be contributing more thoughts about the challenges for older people of living in a digitally connected society.
Great list of resources, well done. The fact remains that until there is ubiquitous connectivity that is fit for purpose many people will remain analogue. Getting older is hard enough without struggling for hours to get and hold on to a connection to do anything bordering on useful with it. The connections have to be fit for purpose and just work before any self respecting older person will waste time learning new stuff.
I agree connectivity remains a challenge. My view also is that we need to promote the benefits of being connected rather than the technology which is changing all the time.
Excellent stuff – thank you. We have lots of research that shows that face-to-face social networks really contribute to people’s health and resilience. Does anyone have similarly robust evidence that online, virtual social networks have similar effects? I am not sure that the online/depression study quoted here is very strong – it depends on the research methodology.
I have personal evidence that online networks have a very positive affect. Bereaved people and carers often need to talk in the wee small hours when most people are asleep. They take the time to visit the networks, contribute thoughts, answer comments from the night before, etc. It can bring great comfort. Does personal experience count as ‘research methodology’? Does grassroots information carry any weight or has it to be done by long questionnaires and tick boxes to have validity?
This is a really interesting question and you may be interested in the work being undertaken by Markets for Good who are exploring how the voices of service recipients are included in evaluations of the social impact of projects.
I agree that this depends on the research methodology. Having read over 60 reports about older people, their use of the internet and access to information and support through digital technology I would suggest that there is an increasing body of evidence about the value of online social networks. It is however early days and I am particularly interested in how technology can help people develop offline social networks.
Reblogged this on Health Care Social Media Monitor.
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Hello Shirley,
thanks for starting to put these resources together. I think the Gen2Gen is one of the best options for connecting isolated older people. Age UK Barnet is doing a similar project and is very successful (http://talklondon.london.gov.uk/my-neighbourhood/stronger-communities/articles/mi-community-bonding-generations-and-sharing-it). Also the organisation KIT works by bringing volunteering into care homes to connect older people with their simplified computer system (http://www.kitorguk.com/).
I have written a blog entry about your entry – you can find it here.
http://researchseniorfriendsonline.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/interesting-blog-entry-on-how-internet.html
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