La Laguna y la Fundación CajaCanarias unen esfuerzos contra la brecha digital en personas mayores
The Healthy Aging and Empowerment Service for Seniors in La Laguna, directed by the Department of Social Welfare and managed by Muvisa, is expanding its training offer and strengthening actions aimed at combating the digital divide among people over 60 in the area, thanks to its collaboration with various entities in the Canary Islands. This week, the municipality has introduced a new project through collaboration with the CajaCanarias Foundation, which will bring their «Digital Boost» program to four senior association locations in La Laguna. This initiative aims to provide the necessary skills and competencies for safe internet use to the community.
The Councilor for Social Welfare, María Cruz, emphasizes «the impact on daily life and tasks that these actions represent, which we are strongly supporting in our training, leisure, and healthy aging program. Having the experience and commitment of entities such as the CajaCanarias Foundation is a fundamental contribution to addressing the challenge of older people adapting to constantly changing technology that is increasingly pervasive in everyday life.»
«From handling administrative procedures, requesting documentation, to managing medical appointments, technology is a great support in avoiding travel and facilitating the daily lives of many people with mobility issues or who lack necessary family support. We want the seniors in La Laguna to familiarize themselves with all these resources and have all the necessary tools to use them safely,» adds Laura García Pérez, the coordinator of the Muvisa Seniors Service.
The «Digital Boost» project by the CajaCanarias Foundation, now in its third edition and in collaboration with the Adsis Foundation, aims to enhance the digital skills and competencies of the Canarian population so that participants can fully leverage the benefits of essential technologies in today’s society.
The first session in La Laguna took place this week at the headquarters of the Nueva Generación Seniors Association (El Cardonal), and the upcoming sessions will be held on June 23 and 24 at the associations of San Matías and La Atalaya (Tejina), respectively. Initially, the project will be implemented in four locations, but the Seniors Service has made itself available to the CajaCanarias Foundation to expand the program’s presence in La Laguna and continue collaborating in the fall.
The sessions are held in person and last approximately an hour and a half. Training is provided through informative sessions, allowing participants to acquire the necessary digital skills and fully benefit from digital technologies.
This training is conducted in collaboration with experts in teaching the use of these technologies to beginners or those with limited skills in the field, through engaging, participatory, and tailored training. Participants will learn to navigate the internet securely, manage social networks and text editors, make purchases, and use specific applications for procedures and services from both public and private entities, among other topics.
Integration and Independence
The «Digital Boost» program aims to enable anyone to securely and responsibly use ICT and enhance online relationships, with the goal of promoting social integration and personal independence. Furthermore, this program seeks to facilitate access to digital information, promote the use of public and private resources through digital means, acquire or improve digital competencies, and leverage digital technology for the enhancement of individual well-being.
