Elderly People in Thailand are strongly motivated to remain digitally connected
In Thailand, population ageing is defined as the increasing proportion of elderly people – 60 years and above – in the total population. The rapid demographic change that has taken place in Thailand and the high speed of aging have raised concerns among policy makers regarding elderly people’s quality of life in the future. As of today, Thailand has become the most “aged” in Southeast Asia, next only to Singapore (UNPFA, 2008).
Population aging, as well as fast technological developments, poses new challenges to individuals, communities and nations including widening the digital divide gap between younger and older generations. ICT illiteracy has resulted in elderly people’s exclusion from using ICTs to improve daily living and their lack of access to information. Understanding the fundamental role that ICT plays to improve the quality of life for elderly people, for example, will help them carry out daily activities, monitor their health, create social networks to combat loneliness, strengthen family ties, and increase their participation in society. CCDKM has been supporting for a decade projects to enhance elderly people’s access, knowledge and skills on the use of ICT.
This year 2015, with the support of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT), and in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Telecentre Network and New Media4D, 76 elderly people from eight provinces in Thailand (Chiang Mai, Phetchaburi, Chonburi, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Phichit, Lamphoon, Nong Khai) have been trained during a series of workshops on Computer literacy and ICT skills, Computer set-up and maintenance, Windows Data Management, Introduction to the Internet and Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Internet Browsers, Social Networking and Facebook, Internet trading and legal implications of internet usage and the Computer Crime Act B.E. 2550 (2007).
For most trainees, it was their first time holding a mouse in their hands and interact with a computer and any kind of mobile devices especially a smart phone or a tablet. Often, the main challenges that elderly people face when exposed to technology is their lack of confidence and fear of using ICT, the lack of adequate support tailored to their needs, high costs of training, and the difficulty of understanding technical jargon. During this training, however, participants understood the importance of ICT in facilitating social inclusion, improving the quality of their lives and enhancing independent living.
“I learned how to use Google to search for news. I love to be informed on what is happening all over the country. My daughter lives in Bangkok and I must understand which events might affect her directly”, said Si, from Nakhon Pathom, Central region of Thailand;
“I used to be very afraid of all kinds of IT relevant devices. It is also very costly and very unnecessary for my life. But once I got trained from my daughter to use smart phone to call for free. I was forced to learn how to use it because it is the only way that I can talk and see all my children who are not living around me and I can talk for free ( the LINE free call). Presently, I am very happy to use it very day, and more than half an hour a day to call all my children and my friends who live far. Had I known about its benefits before, I would have used it without any delay,” said Paow from Pisanulook, North of Thailand.
In addition, once all this aged trainees learned how to send emails and use Facebook, and realized the value of ICT in keeping them in touch with their relatives and friends, the motivation to remain digitally connected became strong.
“Now that I discovered the Internet and learned how to use the Computer or other mobile devices, there is no technology gap between my grandson and I”, said Tong from Pichit, Lower North region of Thailand.
“I feel very happy to greet and share among all my friends and my network everyday. My life is much better after I have learned how to use all kinds of social media. All my loneliness are gone besides gaining more self confidence because I can share some of my life experiences with all my friends and former colleagues who used to be my subordinates as they can send me text messages or Facebook me to ask questions. And I can answer them easily without any difficulty and cost. This has made me feel like I have higher self-value as I am doing good to others” said Tuk from Nonthaburi, Central of Thailand.
So, in conclusion, ICT can help develop better quality of life to all aged citizens especially those from the middle class. Because of the tangible outcome, some of the municipalities and Local Administrative Bureau have already provided free WIFI to their communities in places like the Community Hall, the public library, the service centers, the temple, the public park, the school, etc. It also means no one is left out — all the hard core poor aged citizens in the remote rural area or the urban poor.
By: Sara Gabai and Kamolrat Intaratat