Social project for adaptation of senior citizens to information technology use

Background Information

The work of social and cultural rehabilitation for senior citizens is carried out in accordance with the "Social protection of the population, Rostov-on-don” program, by decree of the Administration of Rostov-on-don from Nov 29, 2010 N 690. Work is conducted in cooperation with the MUSTN district, councils of veterans, the City House of veterans and the "I'm a volunteer!” public youth organization.

"Status: Online. Computer literacy for senior citizens, adults and people with disabilities".

Goals of the Initiative

•create a network of consulting points on the basis of libraries; provide free of charge access to information resources; creation of interest groups in order to implement the unspent creative and intellectual potential.

•each of these infopunktis will be a consultant from among librarians or volunteers who will provide necessary assistance to the retired on an individual basis and will teach them the basics and effective methods to search and retrieve online information.

•consultant group classes learning the basics of computer literacy.

•the responsibilities of the consultant is to identify and provide information requested by the visitor information desk (to sign up for the doctor, to make an announcement, to post an article, to get information about the methods of solution to their problems).

Training the elderly about basic computer skills and techniques of effective information search via the internet facilitates their adaptation to life, and should become one of the priority directions of the state and society, stakeholders and the general public. In the course of the project it is planned to hold a series of events that will allow further development of the project on an effective, low-cost.

Innovation for the Initiative

For work on the program "Social protection of the population, Rostov-on-don in 2011-2015" more than 1,500 pensioners and the disabled were trained or received consultations. Readers learned to work via the internet in order to search for work or interesting work information, and communicate with family and friends via e-mail, Skype, and social networks. A grant has allowed the expansion of municipal libraries.

Outcomes and Assessments

The results of the work done will include: 

The formation of a modern information infrastructure in Rostov-on-don;

Adaptation of handicapped people, pensioners and veterans with information technology and improved access conditions to internet resources;

The increase of services provided to citizens in electronic form.