Age UK Bournemouth hopes to teach the elderly to use Facebook

Age UK Bournemouth is looking for young volunteers to help teach older people to use Facebook in an attempt to tackle loneliness. Many older people are confined to their homes due to mobility difficulties and so are less able to socialise, causing isolation. This is especially true for those who rely on carers or products such as stairlifts.

However, with the use of Facebook, older people can remain in contact with relatives or connect with old friends who may not live close by. While picking up the phone is one of the points in our guide to beating loneliness, using Facebook can help the elderly stay in touch with those who are often on the go or people that they may have lost contact with over the years.

Encouraging Dorset’s older population to connect online

The project is called Connecting Dorset and aims to get 1,000 older people online in order to socialise regularly with both new and old connections. It was inspired by research conducted by the University of Exeter, which encouraged Age UK Bournemouth to produce a variety of DIY guides, as well as organising a number of workshops and one-to-one sessions.

The charity is now looking for volunteers to help guide those interested in learning how to use the internet during sessions from August to November. Volunteers must have basic computer literacy, and know how to use Facebook to a competent level. If this sounds like something you could offer, get in touch with Age UK Bournemouth by emailing Sam Ling on Sam.ling@ageukbournemouth.org.uk.

Sam Ling, project lead, said: “For many older people a small gap in knowledge is all that stands between isolation and the opportunity to connect with others, be it online, or in person.”

For those that do not live in Bournemouth, our quick start guide to the internet for older people should be able to help you get started, although it’s always worth asking friends and relatives for help too.

Image Credit: Marco Pakoeningrat (Flickr.com)