A group of islanders have set up the Silver
Surfers at Home (SSAH) scheme, which aims to provide internet
access for the Bailiwick’s residential homes for the elderly.
Residents at Longue Rue House are getting
accustomed to the internet age as the group’s pilot project. The
initiative is being supported by Sure Broadband.
The group has five volunteers who will be
teaching silver surfers at Longue Rue House about browsing the web,
and e-mailing, as well as providing general advice on using the
keyboard, mouse and other hardware. SSAH have also donated computer
equipment to the retirement community, whilst Sure has installed a
free broadband connection.
SSAH founder Alan Sartain said the aim of the
group is to ensure that the island’s elderly residents are not
excluded from the many benefits offered by the internet.
“The internet provides a source of
entertainment, communication, shopping, information, and lots more,
which most of us with a computer at home or at work now take for
granted. However many elderly residents do not have access, and
we’d like to help change that,” he said.
“The majority of the people we are teaching are
over 70. Some of them have used typewriters before and so have a
better feel for it, whereas others have never sat at a computer
before in their life,” he said.
Mr Sartain said that getting the first computer
and internet connection up and running is a milestone for the
project.
“If this one is successful and the residents
get something out of it, then we will be looking to install one at
Maison Maritaine next. A few of the other homes have also shown an
interest, so possibly on to them afterwards all being well.”
“We welcome any donations of equipment from
businesses and other organisations on the island. We desperately
need a trackerball because individuals with arthritis find them
easier to use than mice,” he said.
Product manager for Sure’s broadband services,
Steve Lawrence said that while widespread use of the internet was
still a relatively new phenomenon, it is now an everyday part of
many islanders lives.
More than half of all island homes now have a
broadband internet connection.
“In a relatively short time many of us have
come to rely on the internet for so much of what we do. Whether it
is for entertainment, accessing information, or simply
communicating via email, it is a big part of life today,” he
said.
“I think that is true no matter what age you
are, which is why we think Silver Surfers at Home is a great
initiative and one that we were very keen to support.”