Ageing in the Twenty-First Century: - HelpAge International

Chapter 2: A fresh look at evidence – Age-friendly environments
FAO Dimitra Project
Members of a community listeners’ club in Niger use radio to
exchange ideas and information.
Benefits of new technology
Advances in technology over the past decade have
transformed the way society works and created
tremendous benefits for persons of all ages and in all
aspects of their lives including work, health care and
social and family life.
Technology can alleviate the disadvantage, isolation
and marginalization experienced by many older
persons. 190 When asked about their preferred way of
accessing information, older persons often mention
television and radio. Across the world, mobile phones
and the Internet help older persons keep in touch with
their families and friends. Technology also ensures
more safety at home, facilitates health care, brings new
stimuli into older persons’ lives and creates greater
access to information. 191
In Africa, the Dimitra project, supported by the Food
and Agriculture Organization (FAO), uses radio to
stimulate discussion and exchange of ideas about issues
that are important to rural communities. Older women
play a prominent role in Dimitra-introduced community
listeners’ clubs. They often serve as club presidents,
acting as a catalyst for social cohesion. In some
countries, the listeners’ clubs also use solar-powered
mobile phones to facilitate information exchange and
networking between themselves, radio stations and
representatives of ministries of agriculture (or others)
and farmers’ organizations. The Dimitra network covers
all of Africa with partners in Burkina Faso, Burundi,
Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya,
Madagascar, Morocco, Niger, Senegal and Uganda. 192
Research in Finland reveals that persons aged 75-89 show
extensive interest in new technology. Two in five older
persons said they wanted to communicate with friends
using new technology. About 84 per cent used mobile
phones and 70 per cent, particularly in the younger
group (aged 75-79), said they felt safer if they carried
their phone with them. A quarter of the sample used
a computer, one fifth had Internet access and one sixth
had e-mail. Those who had close friends and relatives
to help them were more likely to go online. 193
In the UK, 45 per cent of 55-75 year-olds are reported to
spend up to 30 hours per week online and 25 per cent are
considered “heavy users” (spending more than 30 hours
a week). Forty-seven per cent use either Skype or instant
messenger services to communicate, and a quarter
stream films or television programmes at least two to
three times a month. One third of over-55s use the
Internet to access social networks, with the over-50s
being Facebook’s fastest-growing audience. 194
78 Ageing in the Twenty-First Century: A Celebration and A Challenge