Technology is not only responsible for the shedding of jobs through making certain manual labour redundant… it is also responsible for allowing people to work longer. It’s easy to dwell on the negative aspects of the technologisation of the world, but this won’t get anybody anywhere, especially when this digital trend is moving so fast and on such a grand scale.

The phenomenon in the Western World of the “Ageing Population” means that there are more and more retirees requiring pensions and fewer and fewer labourers producing the revenue that will pay for the retirees. The obvious cure (or at least mitigation against) is to allow seniors to produce wealth for longer.

If seniors learn how to use computers, which in most cases is as simple as overcoming fear of the unknown, they become far more appetising to employers. Operating a computer does involve many months of practice, to reach a level where one might consider oneself “competent” or at least “confident”, but the individual tasks involved with computing are quite simple. With time, computing can be mastered by just about anyone.

Consider this: if you were an employer, would you hire a young, untested candidate with proficiency in computing, or would you hire a 65 year old veteran of your industry who is also competent in computing?

In many situations, the latter option is far more appealing (reduced necessity for training, value for money etc) and the main thing that’s stopping this recruitment scenario from being the norm is a lack of understanding of computing by seniors!

If we solve this problem, there are too many benefits to count.

Here are a few:

1. Our economy will reach a new level of efficiency, as wisdom of seniors is injected back into industries
2. Seniors themselves will enjoy the many benefits that remaining in work can bring (with the option of retirement still available, of course)
3. Young people will be forced to learn real skills, as opposed to mere computer proficiency in order to compete for jobs – boosting the overall skill base of the economy
4. Seniors will enjoy the many benefits that IT literacy can bring to their lives

Check out this great article by Alexis Brion regarding accessible mobile telephones for seniors:

Telephone design for seniors

An Australian website also provides a senior-friendly phone: http://seniorphone.com.au/

A mobile phone designed for seniors.

The Australian Government is seeking public input on its review of the operation of the Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme. The Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme (CIS) was introduced in May 2007 and allows people with a concern about the service or quality of care being provided to elderly Australians receiving Commonwealth funded aged care services to have their concerns investigated. The review is considering aspects of the CIS including: The processes, practices and the timeliness of responses to complaints Communication between the CIS and stakeholders including residents and their families, staff and aged care providers The training provided to investigators Investigators’ access to clinical and investigative expertise The framework used for the escalation of complaints Information collection and consideration and The relationship between the CIS, the Aged Care Commissioner, the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency Ltd, and other relevant

Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot today announced a $43.8 million education and training package designed to up-skill more than 8,000 aged and community care staff. This package brings the Rudd Government’s investment in training for aged care workers to more than $127 million, providing training for more than 21,300 aged care workers. The programs in the $43.8 million education and training package are: which will equip more than 3,000 personal care workers with the skills and knowledge for home-based care of frail aged people with complex care needs and which will support more than 5,000 personal care workers in aged care homes in gaining certificate-level qualifications – such as enrolled nursing.