Helping Seniors in Digital World - LSG Meeting in Pomorskie
Can Digital Skills Improve Seniors' Lives?
As technology becomes an essential part of healthcare, many seniors struggle to keep up. Digital skills are now key to accessing medical services, including telemedicine, yet not all older adults are ready for this shift. How can we bridge this gap and ensure seniors are not left behind? These were the key topics of discussion during the third Local Stakeholder Group meeting in Pomorskie.
Improving Geriatric Care
Dr. Hanna Kujawska-Danecka from the Medical University of Gdańsk (GUMed) introduced the "Geriatric Center" pilot project. The initiative equipped a geriatric ward, outpatient clinic, and rehabilitation center at the University Clinical Center (UCK). It also developed an integrated care model for seniors and launched the GerrApp application to assist with patient care.
Digital Exclusion Among Seniors
Professor Tomasz Zdrojewski and Adrian Lange from GUMed discussed digital exclusion among seniors in Poland. They presented findings from the PolSenior2 study, which analyzed nearly 6,000 people aged 65+ between 2017 and 2020. The study found that access to healthcare and digital services depends heavily on education and financial status.
How COVID-19 Changed Seniors' Digital Skills
Dr. Piotr Bandosz and Krzysztof Flis from GUMed explored how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted seniors' digital skills. Their research, based on a group of 1,825 seniors from the PolSenior2 study, looked at how the pandemic influenced internet use and digital literacy among older adults.
Key Discussion Points
After the presentations, participants engaged in a discussion. They highlighted two major issues: the lack of accessible rehabilitation services for seniors and the potential of telerehabilitation as a solution. Another important topic was creating a support system where active seniors could assist others in need.
Next Steps
Due to the great interest in these topics, the discussion will continue in an additional online meeting soon.