The digitalization of society opens up new opportunities for an aging society. The number of older people using digital devices and applications is continually increasing. But the switch from analog to digital can also pose challenges for old people in their everyday lives. There is still a large group of seniors who are offline due to their gender, income or educational qualifications.
Participation in old age
In the research project ‘Digital Participation in Old Age - Neighbourhood Care in Frankfurt am Main’ (DiTA), Rafaela Werny wants to introduce older people to the digital world and enable them to use it confidently. By removing barriers and providing opportunities for digital participation, she plans to help enable them to participate digitally and in society. Her aim is to work together with full-time staff and volunteers to offer elderly people in Frankfurt quick, low-threshold help with digital issues and problems. To this end, she will cooperate with organisations that work with the elderly and the Frankfurt Youth and Social Welfare Office's Ageing Centre to record, network and expand digital services for the elderly in Frankfurt.
Practice Partner
"In the Youth and Social Welfare Office, the Town Hall for Senior Citizens supports older people with the challenges of ageing and offers advice and services that enable them to live a self-determined life in their familiar social environment and in their own homes. Social space orientation is particularly important to us, as the aim is to develop and offer services close to the people of the city of Frankfurt together with the service providers. This is precisely where Dr Rafaela Werny's postdoctoral position comes in. We are delighted that new district-specific strategies on the topic of ageing in a digitalised world are being scientifically designed and developed with practical relevance in the DiTA project."
Dr Miranda Leontowitsch, Head of the Ageing Centre (City of Frankfurt Youth and Social Welfare Office)