In the future the elderly will have to go online or lose money

[Dawndonnaagain]

according to the Tories. Nice.

Francis Maude in The Telegraph

[meglet]

he's never watched an elderly person struggle at a cashpoint has he .

and I take it they'll be giving everyone laptops then.

What a prick.

[Pixel]

It's not just 'learning to get on the internet' covered in one easy lesson (as they suggest in the article) though is it? It's maintaining your computer so it's virus free and secure, keeping it updated and all that. I don't completely understand it myself (luckily dh does) and I'm not a pensioner. Paying someone to help with all that is very expensive even if you can find someone who doesn't rip you off. Then of course there's the cost of setting up with a computer, paying for internet connection, and people's health! Lots of elderly people have eyesight problems etc...the list goes on.

Absolutely terrible idea to force this on people. Whatever happened to choice?

[3bunnies]

Is he going to go around and help df who has had a stroke and whose fingers no longer do what he wants them to or dm who can't remember what the nice young man was trying to sell her half an hour ago? They still live in their own home with carers but there is no chance that they could learn how to go online. Df did for a while before his strokes but dm has never even turned a computer on.

[Pixel]

Precisely. Are people going to have to ask carers for help? I know most of them are good people but there are enough examples in the news of pensioners having money stolen. How much easier to go online and steal than to take the odd tenner from the jar in the kitchen!

[CMOTDibbler]

My mum was online, did online banking etc etc, until she got dementia. Its taken some time to sort all that out, and my dads sight is bad enough that even if he went to the library to use the internet, he wouldn't be able to see well enough even if he had the mental agility to learn (he doesn't).

[bigbluebus]

My DF was very computer literate (self taught) until he died aged 86 leaving DM alone. SHe doesn't even know how to switch the computer on (although thankfully did know the main password as DF had tried to teach her the basics (failing miserably).
Don't get me started on how diffficult it was for us to sort stuff out for DM as we didn't even know how much money she had coming in/going out as DF did internet banking and paperless statements. DF did all the finances as he had been a Bank Manager. Dragging DM off to the bank within days of his death was one thing we/she could have done without.

[HelenaDove]

Ah yes This makes about as much sense as his "jerrycan" idea.

[Dawndonnaagain]

Aye, the man's a numpty!

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

My grandparents were born circa 1910 and never owned either a phone or a car. This put them at various disadvantages. Like cars and phones, the internet is now regarded as basic infrastructure rather than a luxury. Many organisations, not jut government ones, are closing physical outlets in favour of web services... (banking for example). Some (not all) older people are going to need assistance to get connected in the same way that people with other disabilities need help with mobility or communication. Think putting it up that this is the direction of travel is a responsible move, not a threat.

[Skatingfastonthinice]

My parents are very suspicious of online security and the ease with which it can be breeched. As they have a background in Whitehall, the MOD and internal security I am reluctant to scoff at them.
Everyone jhere is making good points, many of which will be valid for the current working generation as they hit pensionable age.
DD lost her phone last month, and as a young adult, she kept everything digital. Cue swearing and gnashing of teeth.

[Isitmebut]

While I guess this is to try and keep the cost government/local authorities down, I'm not comfortable with this, as a personal example I have a close friend who refuses to learn how to send a text, never mind sit and work one of those new fangled whirly-gigs. It could just be texts to me, mind. lol

Many of the aged rely on help from friends and family to fill out forms etc, but that can not always be the case depending on family/friends circumstances.

Clearly there are already various bodies that help with this, as either sitting with a council officer trying to explain something OR receiving local authority 9-page plus benefits letters telling you how your £50 a month Housing Allowance IS calculated, or why you NO LONGER receive £10 a month Council Tax benefit, NEEDS A CLEAR EXPLANATION - but they have to ensure help is there in the future, for those that need it.

[Isitmebut]

P.S. I'm not 60 yet, but WILL NOT TRUST on-line banking, or much else, on 'security issues'.

[HelenaDove]

I dont trust it either Neither does Dh Hes almost 65 Im 41. We dont even do direct debit.

[Dawndonnaagain]

Ds (30) was a bank manager, he has very strict rules about paying for things online and for moving money about.

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

Back to my grandparents.... a big reason they didn't get a telephone was that they didn't trust them. They thought burglars would call the house to see if anyone was in before deciding to rob it.

Money security is important but cheques are a spectacularly insecure way of moving money around which is why a lot of organisations are now only accepting electronic transfers or debit/credit card. Cash is even less secure and yet we remain quite happy passing around notes and coins.

It's OK for anyone to opt out of mainstream technology but I think they then have to accept they are going to find options are increasingly closed off.

[Dawndonnaagain]

Cogito I can see your point and I personally think that this is the way the world will evolve eventually. However, I object to the removal of choices and I do worry about those with disabilities etc. My younger ds has to use voice activated software to be able to access a computer, just one example of where it's not always the most practicable option.