Healthcare News

Project gives elderly internet help
20/03/2008
The European parliament has voted to spend more than £100 million to help elderly people embrace technology.

A new project has been launched to help elderly people embrace technology.

The European Parliament voted to devote more than £100 million from the EU’s budget over the next five years to a new research programme to speed up research to help the ageing population.

Volunteers from Age Concern celebrated the news, claiming that helping the elderly utilise the internet can help them keep in touch with family members who live far away – as well as aiding them with day-to-day tasks.

Peter Howitt, MEP for the east of England and president of the All Party Disability Group, told the Peterborough Evening Times: "Thousands of lonely pensioners have gone a full month without speaking to family or neighbours in the past year, according to recent research in the UK.

"The internet needs to be more accessible and there should be more training available to enable elderly people to stay in touch."

According to a recent Reuters article, the aging population in the EU member states will increase by 40 per cent between 2010 and 2030.

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