A growing number of older people in Wales are at risk of social exclusion and being left behind as the use of digital technology continues to play an even greater role in our everyday lives.
That’s the warning from the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales as she publishes a new report, ‘Access denied: Older people’s experiences of digital exclusion in Wales’.
The Commissioner is also concerned that older people’s rights to access information and services, enshrined in a range of human rights instruments and other legislation, are being undermined by poor quality or non-existent offline alternatives, such as face-to-face appointments, telephone helplines or paper copies of information booklets.
The Commissioner’s calls for action from public bodies include ensuring that duties under the Equality Act (and other relevant legislation) are being met, alongside delivering practical support to get people online while continuing to provide information and services via non-digital means. In addition, she is calling for digital exclusion to be central to discussions relating to the design and delivery of public services, and for the voices of older people who are digitally excluded to be heard and responded to more effectively.
The Commissioner is also calling on private companies to take action to ensure that customers who are not online receive equivalent levels of service to those who are, and that customers who are digitally excluded, or find themselves in vulnerable situations are offered support, including help with costs.
For further information please select the following link: Access Denied: Older people's experiences of digital exclusion in Wales - Older People’s Commissioner for Wales