“I learned to write when I was 50 years old, now it’s the mobile and the internet”

It’s never too late to learn. With this idea in mind, some 200 seniors have approached this September 30 to the ‘senior hackathon‘ which has been hosted by the Bellvitge Sergio Manzano Municipal Sports Center in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelonès).

The City Council, with the collaboration of the “la Caixa” Foundation and of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), has organized a series of workshops for the city’s older people to learn some of the basic functions of mobile phones and cybersecurity.

“I learned to write when I was 50 years old, now it’s the mobile and the internet& rdquor ;, he explains Miguel Delgado. Miguel emigrated from Córdoba to L’Hospitalet at the age of 24 and points out that, at that time, it was common for many of the people who migrated not to know how to read or write, but that, over the years, the people around him have adapted “pretty well”.

“Me I am learning little by little”, concludes Miguel, who, at 79 years old, says that he also drives “something” the computer.

According to data from the City Council of L’Hospitalet, the 20% of hospitalenses -which is equivalent to about 54,000 people– are over 65 years old and, of these, “more than 5,700 people over 80 years of age live alone, most of them women & rdquor ;, stand out from the consistory.

The Month of the Elderly

After two years marked by restrictions due to covid-19, L’Hospitalet has recovered this year the celebration of the Week for the Elderly, turning it for the first time in the Month of the Elderlywith a program of activities that began on September 30 and will last until October 21.

“With the pandemic, all the digital divide among certain sectors of the population. Older people are one of the most vulnerable profiles because they need to know how they can use these devices and access the services that the administrations themselves offer,” he explains. David QuirosCouncilor for Innovation, Education and Culture.

“Even to go to the doctor I had to make an appointment on the computer & rdquor ;, says Francisca Saragossa, 71 years old. Francisca explains that she is part of the board of a home for the elderly in Can Serra and that she has attended the workshops to learn and, later, “to be able to transfer it to my home & rdquor ;.

Different skill levels

Marti Duran, coordinator of the Fundació Politècnica de Catalunya, points out that this session is a “tasting” of the training they carry out within the framework of the computer program for the elderly of the “la Caixa” Foundation. A program adapted to several different levels and aimed at elderly people acquiring the necessary digital skills to make their daily lives easier.

The difference between the level of the elderly has been palpable from minute one of the workshops hosted by the Sergio Manzano Bellvitge Municipal Sports Center, given that some of the attendees did not even have WhatsApp. It was also among some of the multiple marriages that have attended the event. This is the case of Carmen Marín, 66, who after following point by point the instructions of the counselors you have learned to add “a little heart” to your WhatsApp profilesome knowledge that just after has moved her husbandwhich was somewhat behind.

The day, once the workshops were over, continued with a directed sports session, specially designed for the group of older people and organized by the municipal sports centers of L’Hospitalet. Thus, after sweating the shirt, the day continued with a free popular food for people over 65 who attend and which, according to figures from the City Council, has had the participation of 480 people.

In addition, this day has been used to start a survey on the needs of the elderlywhich will take place during the months of October and November in various parts of the city.

Activities in the Month of the Elderly

The activities of the Month of the Elderly Persons will now be extended until October 21 with different activities. All programming is part of the celebration of October 1, International Day of the Elderly, in order to “recognize the value of older people in our society and turn them into protagonists”, they point out from the City Council.

Thus, among the activities, the dialogue with the former mayor of Madrid stands out Manuela Carmena and that will be led by the journalist Milagros Perez Oliva. This event will take place on Monday, October 17 at 5:00 p.m. in the Auditorium of La Farga Center d’Activitats.

Related news

From October 19 to 21, the FiraGran 2022the 23rd edition of the Hall for the Elderly of Catalonia, with conferences, workshops and debates, as well as exhibitors with entities, companies and administrations that work to improve the quality of life of the elderly.

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