With the right motivation and training as well as support from the young, senior citizens can learn to adopt technology in all aspects of their lives. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star
TECHNOLOGY scares 76-year-old retiree Norshi Meor.
“If not for my son, I will be lost. I leave everything to him,” says the Perak native, who concedes that things have become easier with digital technology.
“Now my son can just go online to make a doctor’s appointment for me and get my medications. Even when we have any queries we can go online to get the answers. Not like last time when they put you on hold for hours and pass you around from one department to another. Less stress now,” she says.
Norshi says that her children have tried to teach her to do it herself, and she can now cope but is “still slow”.
“I take a long time, so it’s faster if my kids do it for me.”
Gerontologist Lily Fu believes with the right motivation and training, senior citizens can learn to adopt technology in all aspects of their lives.
And most importantly, the idea that senior citizens today cannot learn anything new is simply not true, she says.
“I am telling you that senior citizens can learn how to use new technology. It is just that we have to take things slow. Our eyes are not as sharp as they used to be.
“You just need to instil the right motivation to teach them.”
Among others, Fu says they need to know the importance of learning how to pay for necessities, which is largely being done digitally nowadays.
If motivation doesn’t work, they can always learn through “force” like the utilisation of the MySejahtera app during the pandemic, says Fu.
“Give them time. There are a lot of older people who know how to use WhatsApp, ewallets and even Zoom. They probably were motivated to learn about Zoom during the pandemic.”
As for what the government can do to mitigate digital illiteracy in the group, Fu says she went to a workshop for seniors held by the Human Resources Ministry, alluding to existing efforts such as the Senior Citizens Activity Centres nationwide, to keep senior citizens abreast with technology.
“It was a three-day workshop where we learned about ChatGPT.”
Another way to educate more senior citizens about technology is to have them teach each other, she says.
“You always have a younger one (among them) to teach. It is also easier that way.”
National Council of Senior Citizens Organisations Malaysia (Nascom) president Datuk Dr Soon Ting Kueh says, unfortunately, older people tend to be “tech-phobic” and find it difficult to adapt to modern facilities, such as devices and apps.
“Going digital too fast in this day and age can be very challenging. Not all, but senior citizens (in general) are not tech-savvy. Furthermore, there is a ‘tech phobia’ among us.
“Today, everyone needs a handphone. But the elderly need to take more time getting adjusted to new technology every day, even in the use of apps,” Soon says.
He says the same happened years ago when the use of automated teller machines (ATM) was first introduced in the country.
“A lot of the senior citizens were afraid to use ATMs back then. They were scared that if they pressed the buttons wrongly, their money would be gone. You even had older people asking the young ones for help to draw cash.”
But slow and steady wins the race. Or in this case, gets the hang of it.
For example, Soon says he did not realise that he could even pay his assessment tax by using a banking app on his phone, despite having had it installed for quite some time.
“My adviser even told me I could check my investments, among many other things. I didn’t know that. But I take time to learn about it.”
To create more awareness among seniors, retired lecturer Elizabeth Marshall, 60, suggests that service providers go to places where the elderly tend to congregate and engage them there directly.
Marshall: Service providers and politicians' service centres should hold engagement and education sessions for senior citizens at the places they frequent.
An example she gives is to emulate the approach by Bukit Gasing state assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran who instructed his staff to meet the elderly at the wet markets.
“He had young people in his team come and teach these people who were regularly at the market because they do their marketing and then they have their breakfast there. So he had people come there and ever so often, he would run a workshop on how to use your phones,” she tells Sunday Star.
The practicality of certain healthcare devices must also be well-designed for elderly users.
“Because of our age, our poor eyesight makes it difficult to see the words on the screen clearly. Because the screen of the phone is too small. So it is difficult for us to use and control the phone. I still prefer physical face-to-face interaction when having some medical services,” says retired school principal Chuah Leng Ooi, 68.
Chuah: Young app designers must design interfaces and menus for the poorer eyesight of the elderly.
Like many elderly, people Chuah is also wary of security and threats from cyberspace.
“The feeling of fear exists because we are not confident about the safety and security of personal data when using the apps. If it is recommended by someone who I trust, maybe I will use the apps,” he says.
A common thread among senior citizens tends to be to call for closer assistance of their needs in their old age.
Dhanaletchimi: Calls for closer guidance to seniors in navigating digital health services.
“Visiting health clinics can be a tedious process. I’m happy to explore digital healthcare services with a bit of support. This support may include guidance on upgrading devices and assistance with using the applications,” says tailor Dhanaletchimi, 78.
