Is it becoming impossible for some older people to manage their affairs independently?

Lin52

A simple phone call to said Council would have remedied the matter. Why involve a newspaper, radio. This is the trouble nowadays, a simple mistake and broadcast it to the world.

Yes, people seem to have no problem with communicating when it comes to complaining.

I think oversight by council and should be complained about. My postal vote had useful envelope with all the instructions etc

A simple phone call to said Council would have remedied the matter. Why involve a newspaper, radio. This is the trouble nowadays, a simple mistake and broadcast it to the world.

It is becoming more and more diffcult for those who are not internet/computer savvy to get things done or check their entitlements such as pensions. We live in Ireland at moment and everythng is online from bus passes to tv licenses. We have used computers all our lives but we know of several people who could not book their vaccinatiosn because it was online. Yes there was a phone number but you had to go online to find it. It is a generational thing but society needs to make it easeir for elerly people to get things done without computers or asking others for help. Hard to live an independant life these days if you are not online.

Galaxy the problem isn't always affordability though I know it is for some. My DM had Parkinsons - she was an early adopter of most technology in the Eighties and had a home computer before most people for work reasons. She could manage Skype. However as her coordination and voice got weaker, she was forced to lean more on her DC. Voice recognition and specialist keyboards would not have worked. It was really just down to human help. HOWEVER I do think those who devise online systems - whether it's voting/banking/online apps need to proof them for age and infirmity.

I refuse to be on Facebook, Instagram, zoom, facetime, duo, whats app, messenger etc and stick with emails

What do you see as the difference between posting on here and on amy of the other platforms you mention?

Unfortunately, there are a whole load of fools out there that try and dictate to the public what and how we register or do things. ID is now one of those requiring smartphones, driving licences, passports and other things. With all official bodies, I just say if you want them then either supply them or find them as I don't use them. Maybe when we old uns dies out it won't matter but until then I'll stand my ground. I refuse to be on Facebook, Instagram, zoom, facetime, duo, whats app, messenger etc and stick with emails.

Fran I wondered about that but then thought it must be a security issue re the signature. Scanned documents don’t always scan clearly.

I applied for a postal vote. Took a little while searching, but eventually found appropraite form on laptop and filled it in with all details. But then could not find any way if 'sending' this back. When I read information carefully, I had to print off that completed form and use landmail to post to my local town hall. Okay, I did, and did receive confirmation and then my postal vote. But find it surprising that when most of it is on line - still have to send it off by landmail.

I am 80years of age, but think it is important for me to keep up with technology as it is a normal part of life these days.

As for using cheques, do people realise that anything other than individuals have to pay sizeable bank charges not only in using cheques, but also in paying them in. When I went on my Residents Association Committee, I was horrified at the amount of bank charges paid by our non-profit making Association, mainly due to people paying their half-yearly mainteancne charges by cheque.

I can remember, long back in the past - in the 1950's some of my elderly aunts being scared to use a telephone. There are many opportunities of older folk being able to learn basic everyday computer skills. This should be encouraged.

Savvy

suziewoozie I'm hoping I can grab my neighbour or the young lad who does the gardens.

You’ve certainly highlighted a flaw in the system. Well at least you’ve plenty of time to catch someone

suziewoozie I'm hoping I can grab my neighbour or the young lad who does the gardens.

Savvy

My polling card arrived the other week telling me my postal vote would arrive shortly, so I'll have both polling card and postal vote.

The downside is that the nearest post box is outside the polling station and I can't walk that far.

I take it someone can post it for you?

luluaugust

Lovely friend, late 70's still takes a cheque to the bank and gets them to cash it, is she the only person still doing this?

No, one of my neighbours still uses cheques, she doesn't have a telephone or the internet either.

My polling card arrived the other week telling me my postal vote would arrive shortly, so I'll have both polling card and postal vote.

The downside is that the nearest post box is outside the polling station and I can't walk that far.

I have a friend who worked in software design all her life involved in high tech defense projects.

Since she reitred she has just refused to use almost any technology. She has a basic phone for calls and texts and that is it. I am reduced to writing her letters every few months to see how she is. Why she is like this I do not know.

Mind you, DD has a friend who is still working in high tech, designing and developing computer systems who outside work, uses no technology. She will not even have a credit card and refuses to learn to drive.

I think we all do very well, I worked at Honeywell Computers in the early 80's, IT has advanced in leaps and bounds. I remember my first mobile phone, so bulky and heavy.

We've taken it in our stride - banking on line, signing documents on line, waiting for smart phone 'codes' - I don't think my late Mum would have coped with it all. I must say having my daughter at home until she was 22 helped, I don't think I'd have signed up for 'Skype' without needing to.

Lovely friend, late 70's still takes a cheque to the bank and gets them to cash it, is she the only person still doing this?

Aepgirl, I could once sense enormous frustration from the person on the other end of the help line - however it was the John Lewis one so he didn’t actually say, ‘You stupid old bat - just do what I’m telling you!’ - but I’m sure he was thinking it!

I’d bought a new laptop from JL - it was about my 4th, so I was far from new to it all. However the new one behaved really oddly - I couldn’t understand what was wrong.

The helpline chap kept telling me to do X, and I would do it, but it still didn’t work, and I know he thought I was clueless and probably senile, too.

However eventually it dawned on him - talk about phew! from both of us. For some strange reason the left and right click had been transposed - he said he’d never known such a thing before.
I hope he then felt bad for having thought I was a semi-senile old bat!!

It’s really unfair and unkind to expect people of any age to adapt to ways that are alien to them.

Even though I consider myself computer-literate there are times when I find it difficult to navigate through certain websites, and have to seek advice. Sometimes I’m treated with respect, other times like a sad little old lady.

Is this situation an opportunity for someone to get paid work as milkman, shopper, computer tech helper, etc and deal only with real money , [paper bills, or cheques?

I imagine there must be a market among customers who prefer to deal with real people , cheques, and paper bank notes and coins

Galaxy

But the answer to that is to reduce the inequality by providing technology not offer an alternative which will further disadvantage those children later in life.

I tend to agree, these days technology is so fundamental to everyday life that children do need a decent computer, if one was provided for every secondary child the cost would not be unreasonable compared with the other costs of education. Cheap out of date computers are not an option they have to have the latest operating systems and should last 5 yrs plus.

But the answer to that is to reduce the inequality by providing technology not offer an alternative which will further disadvantage those children later in life.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Marydoll

My husband emailed and phoned about the mix up over his postal vote request.
He was sure the person he spoke to was working from home.

they are Marydoll, our council office building is being used as a vaccination centre. The switchboard is automated and the robot cant understand you. Every Microsoft teams meeting all the professionals are at home with backgrounds on

My husband emailed and phoned about the mix up over his postal vote request.
He was sure the person he spoke to was working from home.