The journey for carers to overcome the fear of technology
There are more than 2.65 million carers in Australia and the role they play in our community is essential. Carers are people who provide unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness, an alcohol or other drug issue or who are frail aged. They are an integral part of Australia’s health system.
The annual National Carer Survey regularly shows that carers in Australia are highly socially isolated and have low levels of social support.
Partnering with organisations dedicated to the support of carers, YourLink aims to improve the carers’ digital knowledge, access, skill and most importantly, confidence.
"I've learnt a hell of a lot more since the training and I'm much more inquisitive about things to check them out. I do everything on the iPad now, car registration, my driving licence, contacting family by video...anything I do, I tell them to send me any email.”
Fear of technology is a common theme for many and a reason why their digital journey has not started or has perhaps been abandoned. We approach this fear through personalised one-to-one onboarding - we call this a ‘Welcome session’. Carers are individually introduced to a Digital Coach, an iPad and learn how to join and navigate a Zoom meeting. What follows is three interactive, fun and relaxed social learning sessions where they join other carers on Zoom to learn foundational digital skills. A new social network is another benefit of this approach; and quickly those fears are overcome.
"I feel more secure. I don't need to keep running to the grandkids to ask them for help, now I can do things without needing their help and getting in trouble for touching the wrong buttons on their iPad."
For many, learning how to video call friends and family is often high on the list of priorities. For others being able to attach a photo to a text or scan a document and email it was just as important. Accessing online services, working or maintaining education while in lockdown critically means that digital skills and knowledge are also needed to maintain a ‘normal’ life and create independence during COVID-19.
"The training has made me independent from the kids and someone helping me, this is really good. Everyone is so busy with no time to help and now slowly I have been able to do emails, safari...it's excellent."
Many carers are also finding benefits for those they care for.
“The podcast app is my new best friend. I have been downloading episodes into the library for my husband who has dementia to listen too. This has been the only thing I have been able to get him to stay focused with. It has been amazing for him."
It’s this kind of feedback that we love. And if there is any doubt as to what a difference technology and digital inclusion can make, another comment we heard captures it nicely, "I just use it for everything. If I'm not washing, ironing or cooking, I'm on the iPad."
Yourlink is dedicated to the digital inclusion of seniors, carers and care workers. Read about the Carers NSW Carer Connect Program.
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