Contributing to the Postive Ageing Strategy
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
Ireland is developing a National Positive Ageing Strategy which will set a framework for future policies, programmes and services for older people in Ireland. We are contributing to an NCBI submission with our views about the need for older people to be digital included. That means digital connectivity, digital literacy and digital accessibility.
Web accessibility is a big issue here, with more and more public bodies adopting online channels as lower cost ways of providing information and services to the public. This benefits everyone, but only if these services are accessible and the people who need to access them have the required literacy and connectivity.
The accessibility of digital TV is another important issue. It's notable that the National Health Service in the UK is now offering its NHS Direct health information and advice service on Freeview digital terrestrial television (DTT) as well as on the web and by telephone. This reduces the number of unnecessary GP visits paid for by Government and is a huge cost saver, so we can expect similar initiatives here in Ireland. But older people must be able to operate their DTT receivers. Given that the current DTT receiver specfications do not even specify an easy to use remote control, this is an issue of concern to us.