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According to a report by Age UK, more than 4.5 million people aged 65 and over are unable to complete the most basic tasks needed to successfully use the internet.
The charity’s analysis warned that it could mean millions of older people could be left behind as more essential services such as healthcare, banking and utilities move online.
Age UK’s new report ‘Offline and What’s Overlooked’ reveals that 4.7 million over-65s do what they consider to be the eight most important tasks for using the internet (turning on your device, logging in your login details, etc.). It turns out that you can’t type, use settings and controls, or open applications. , connect to WiFi, open an internet browser, keep your password secure, and change your password when prompted.
Governments need to step in and ensure that we all have the choice to access and use public services offline.
caroline abrahams uk age
And despite an increase in the number of older people going online in recent years, the charity says around one in six people (equivalent to 2.3 million older people) don’t use the internet at all. That’s what he said.
Ahead of this year’s expected general election, Age UK has committed to ensuring all political parties are able to provide and promote ways for all public services to be affordable, easily accessible and available offline. I am asking you to do so.
The company has already launched a petition calling for an end to online, the only option to access the service, with over 50,000 signatures.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: “Many public and private service providers appear keen to move their activities online, but as our new report shows, doing so will reduce the chance that one in three It is clear that there are elderly people behind who are fully retired.
“In fact, the inconvenient truth is that millions of people of all ages, especially older adults, are neither confident nor skilled at using the Internet and would prefer to continue transacting business in more traditional ways. , and that we need to do so again.
“Governments need to step in and make public services available to all of us to access and use offline, rather than forcing everyone to go down digital routes, which many of us face difficulties with. We need to be able to choose the means that best suit our needs: by phone, by letter, or in person. Some of us can’t navigate at all.”
She added that digital exclusion is “cutting off” older people from the support they need to stay “healthy, healthy and independent.”
To ensure no one is left behind in the digital age, we will make free training available to people with limited digital skills and give essential digital skills equal status with English and maths in the adult education system.
government spokesperson
“Internet users and digitally illiterate older people have told us how confused and upset they were when their primary access to essential services, such as GP appointments and Blue Badge applications, moved online. ” she said.
“As our new report shows, this often leaves them feeling ignored and powerless, with serious consequences and the support they need to stay healthy and be healthy and independent. may be cut off.
‘Age UK supports older people who want to use the internet through a number of great digital programs run by local Age UKs. However, the reality is that not everyone can use the internet for a variety of reasons. It doesn’t mean they have the desire to use the internet, especially for more advanced tasks – and this is always the case.
“Policymakers need to stop daydreaming about a digital-only world and get down to earth and ensure older adults continue to access the services they are entitled to, whether they use the internet or not.”
A government spokesperson said: “Being able to go online and navigate the digital world with confidence is important at any age.
“To ensure that no one is left behind in the digital age, we are providing free training to people with limited digital skills and ensuring that essential digital skills are given equal status with English and maths in the adult education system. I did.
“Furthermore, all new central government services must be available through other offline options such as telephone calls, face-to-face meetings, and letters.”
