Free iPad training for aged care residents
A Victorian Coalition government initiative, in partnership with Telstra and the Yarra Plenty Regional Library Service, will provide seniors in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, as well as those in residential aged care facilities, with the ability to borrow iPads from their local library and receive free training.
Victorian Minister for Ageing, David Davis, together with Yarra Plenty Regional Library’s, Judy Buckmaster, assist in showing Wattle Glen aged care resident, Trixie King, an iPad.
Victorian Minister for Ageing, David Davis, officially launched the new Seniors Connect initiative at Wattle Glen Aged Care facility.
Seniors Connect aims to help seniors get online, stay connected to family friends, and improve their digital literacy in the comfort of their own home.
It is expected the program will reach 1,000 seniors living in Melbourne's suburbs of Banyule, Whittlesea and Nillumbik.
The program now has 50 tablets ready for Seniors Card holders to practice on and borrow.
Free training sessions will be delivered from Rosanna Library, at residential aged care facilities in Banyule, Whittlesea and Nillumbik or even in a home visit.
Cindy McLeish, Member for Seymour, says Yarra Plenty Regional Library’s outreach service will also ensure isolated seniors with limited mobility or living in residential aged care services, such as Wattle Glen Aged Care, can access the iPad lending and training program.
Liberal candidate for Yan Yean, Sam Ozturk, says it is known that senior Victorians are taking up technology at an increasing rate.
“This initiative will further empower older people, enabling them to access information, keep in contact with loved ones, pay bills, read books and play games and much more – all at their fingertips,” Mr Ozturk says.
Tim O’Leary, Telstra chief sustainability officer, says developments in digital technologies in recent years have provided significant economic and social benefits, but these benefits are not enjoyed by everyone.
“We focus our community investment on digital inclusion and ensuring everyone has access to the benefits digital technology can bring,” Mr O’Leary says.
The new initiative expands on the recently launched Victorian Tech Savvy Seniors training program that will see more than 6,000 seniors in over 40 rural and regional libraries across Victoria receive face to face technology training.
Both programs partner with Telstra and are part of the Victorian Coalition government’s Seniors Card Age Friendly Partners Program.
