Ensuring Active Involvement of the Elderly in Society is Imperative for NRW
In an effort to ensure that seniors are not left behind in the rapidly advancing digital age, Germany has been taking significant strides to promote digital participation among older adults.
State parliamentarian Sonja Bongers has underscored the importance of offering opportunities for digital use and qualification for seniors, acknowledging that digital technology is becoming increasingly essential for daily life. Bongers has suggested the establishment of local service points, which are not digital learning and experience centers per se, but rather aimed at helping seniors manage their daily lives more effectively.
These local service points, currently being set up across Germany, will provide devices with internet access for seniors to use independently. The initiative is not primarily focused on helping seniors participate in digital communication, but rather on equipping them with the tools necessary to navigate their daily lives more efficiently.
Currently, there are several initiatives in Germany that are promoting digital participation among older people. The Federal Ministry for Senior Citizens runs the "DigitalPakt Alter" (Digital Pact for Older People), which collaborates with federal and state governments, businesses, research institutions, and civil society to establish local contact points aimed at facilitating access to digital technology for older adults.
Another significant strategy is the "Digitaler Engel PLUS" (Digital Angel PLUS) project, which deploys mobile advisory teams travelling around Germany, especially targeting rural areas. This project offers personalized assistance to help seniors navigate digital technology safely and effectively.
In addition to these government-led and volunteer-supported centers, academic initiatives like the Munich-based "Digitale Hilfe" collaborate with local authorities to provide tailored digital aid and education through innovative tools like AI-assisted "digital help boxes."
Research suggests that digital literacy training for older adults should consider their social support networks as essential components of effective learning. Family and community involvement can enhance uptake and sustained use of digital technology, thereby improving social capital and participation in social life.
Bongers has also suggested that municipalities should be supported by the state with a startup aid of at least three years for the establishment and qualification of digital learning and experience centers for seniors. This support is necessary for the creation of sustainable offers for the digital participation of older people.
Despite these efforts, it's important to note that not all older people are able to participate in digital communication, even if they are interested. Those who cannot move confidently and intuitively online are increasingly excluded from social life and will have great difficulty managing their daily lives. The local service points aim to address this issue by providing a supportive environment for seniors to learn and use digital technology at their own pace.
In summary, Germany’s current strategies for promoting digital participation among older people involve a mix of fixed and mobile digital learning centers, volunteer-supported local contact points, AI-assisted educational tools, and an emphasis on social support integration to improve digital skills and confidence among seniors. The establishment of local service points, while not explicitly stated as part of a broader initiative for the digital participation of older people, is a significant step towards ensuring that seniors are not left behind by digitalization.
[1] Federal Ministry for Senior Citizens, DigitalPakt Alter, https://www.bmfsfj.de/bmfsfj/digitalpakt-alter.html
[2] Digitale Hilfe, https://www.digitale-hilfe.de/
[3] Digitaler Engel PLUS, https://www.digitaler-engel-plus.de/
[4] European Commission, Digital skills for Europe, https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/citizens-rights/digital-rights/digital-skills-europe_en
Science plays a crucial role in the development of digital technology, which is essential for health-and-wellness as seniors increasingly rely on it for managing their daily lives. The trend of digitalization, supported by various initiatives in Germany, aims to ensure that seniors are not left behind, offering opportunities for digital use and qualification through local service points and digital learning centers.
