Older people's mixed views on the Net

Research sponsored by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation finds limited interest in the Internet among older people living in sheltered housing. Perhaps not surprisingly, those interested generally saw it as entertainment rather than 'must have', and many needed help in using the Net. The JRF research, by Maria Sourbati in 2002, revealed ambivalence among residents about the Government's push to move services online, because of possible loss of traditional forms of provision. "Many saw it as a substitute for physical activity and human contact, and a threat of further isolation. Some felt that services enabling the continuation of everyday routines (such as shopping for food) or providing support (for example, transferring prescriptions) could be useful to homebound people."

The study, although small scale (18 residents and 6 staff) is useful in showing yet again that Internet benefits depend on personal circumstances, and support, and that more emphasis is needed on people-centred design. My 87 year-old mother is doing pretty well with email to keep in touch with my sister on holiday in New Zealand, and circulating articles for the parish magazine. But she does need some telephone support, and 'on-site visits'..... which is a good thing anyway. Technology can bring families together.
I too did some research for JRF, with colleagues, into Making the Net Work for Residents and their Landlords . We weren't concentrating specifically on older people, but on the general potential for bringing Internet benefits to tenants of housing associations. It would seem a pretty obvious way to provide access and services to poorer communities, as well as opportunities for personal learning, employment and so on. In fact we found limited enthusiasm among either tenants or landlords, for a host of understandable reasons. Different people have different needs and preferences, so we'll continue to need a mix of channels for providing services.
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