Benetas boosts digital inclusion

Technology sessions are improving online confidence and competence for seniors, writes Sandra Hills OAM.  

As our sector grapples with increased demand for services, it’s essential we think differently about how we can deliver care and the ways we can connect with our residents and clients both now and in the future.

In an increasingly digitally connected world, technology represents both an opportunity and challenge for our sector.

As an aged care provider, Benetas believes it’s important to understand and address the reservations, barriers and fears seniors experience when it comes to interacting online so we can support them to remain connected.

Earlier this year, we reached out to more than 1,000 seniors, for the Benetas Digital Inclusion and Cyber Safety Among Australian Seniors Research Study.

We found that more than 80 per cent believed the internet was either very (41 per cent) or somewhat (40 per cent) important in helping them keep in touch with family and friends.

Coincidently, 80 per cent were also concerned about online security with 17 per cent reporting being the victim of an online, email or text message scam costing them money.

Much of the concern came from a lack of confidence deciphering between reputable and non-reputable websites.

Based on these findings, we used social dividend funding to run a series of three 90-minute cybersafety education sessions for Bridgewater Lake Retirement Estate residents and the broader Roxburgh Park community in September. The expert sessions were run by the Cyber Safety Project, an experienced educational organisation, skilled in this very area.

Before the sessions we asked the 14 participants why they wanted more information. The most common responses focused on the need to be aware of online scams and be able to recognise them before they were impacted by them.

Some wanted to understand how to stay in contact with friends and family, others just wanted to get a base-level understanding of the technology, if only to demystify preconceptions and just feel confident online.

Fortunately, the sessions were a success.

By the end of the third and final week, participants felt they had increased their knowledge and recognition of known online red flags, how to set strong and secure passwords and how to shop safely online.

They felt the topics and amount of information was appropriate, describing the sessions as “very extensive” and that “everything was important for me to know”.

Ultimately, the overarching feel was that the sessions had proved to be extremely valuable for the participants who gained skills and confidence to carry out online tasks.

Many looked forward to their next foray online, eager to reach out to a loved one or buy something they had seen online but were previously too concerned to follow through on.

While the results were encouraging, the survey and the subsequent education sessions suggested there were still many seniors that both need and want more information.

As a result, we are exploring further opportunities to support older people using technology.

Sandra Hills OAM is the chief executive officer of Benetas

Originally published in Australian Ageing Agenda on 25/11/2024.