A large screen blares in the living room of 92-year-old Birgit Solum in Overhalla in Trøndelag. It is her daughter Laila Sørgård who calls her via an app on her phone. All Solum has to do is wait for the super simple computer to respond. Then she can start the conversation, look at pictures or read messages. – It is super simple. I just need to switch it on and it will do the rest itself, says a delighted 92-year-old. Daughters Gerd (left) and Laila are impressed by mother Birgit Solum, who manages alone with the help of digital solutions in Overhalla. Photo: Espen Sandmo / news Lending out computers In Overhalla, the municipality has bought 50-60 of these simple computers for the elderly, which they lend out. They are called Komp and have been developed to help the elderly keep in touch with family and the home service in the municipality. Both through pictures, video calls and messages. The municipality of Trønder is generally well advanced with digital security alarms and digital medicine dispensers. The technology notifies the home service if something is not as it should be. – I feel very safe, and not at all monitored. When I have all these electronic aids, I can stay longer at home in my own apartment, says the 92-year-old to news. Keeping the family together Birgit Solum has five children and a large family around her. Daughters Laila and Gerd brag about their mother and how easily she has handled the new aids in the home. – It’s really good. Now we see that she logs on in the morning. If she doesn’t do it, then we have to go away to see her, says Laila Sørgård. – This is perfect for us, and we feel much safer. And the whole family has come closer together via the computer, says Gerd Solum Lande. The Komp monitors are very simple computers that are adapted to older users. Photo: Espen Sandmo / news 11,000 Komp users Founder and managing director Karen Dolva of the company No Isolation has developed Komp. 130 Norwegian municipalities have purchased computers for users. – There are around 11,000 users today, with 60,000 app users. We see that the machines have become important for many families. We also believe they help make it easier to stay at home much longer than before, says Dolva. They are now starting a four-year research project together with Oslo municipality to find out more. IT entrepreneur Karen Dolva has developed the computer screens. Super simple computers that many older people use today. Photo: news – Not impressed But the organization ICT Norway is not impressed with Norwegian municipalities, and the provision for the use of digital aids. – Norwegian municipalities are not good enough to acquire and use aids, which can help prevent digital alienation among the elderly. We believe that the municipalities must receive government grants that can help the elderly and their families with solutions such as Komp machines. – The government must facilitate this when in the new year they will present an action plan for the new initiative “Digital whole life”, says director of ICT Norway, Line Gaare Paulsen. – Elderly people who want to live longer at home must be allowed to live their lives as connected. Regardless of age and place of residence. Digital alienation brings loneliness and ill health. If too many people are left out of digital development, such inequalities in society will be reinforced, believes the ICT director. IKT Norway believes that the Government must support the municipalities financially in the work to facilitate the use of digital aids in elderly care, says director Line Gaare Paulsen. Photo: IKT Norge Overhalla far ahead Overhalla municipality is far ahead among Norwegian municipalities when it comes to the use of electronic aids in elderly care. Beate Aunet is head of care for the elderly, and says the municipality with its 3,800 inhabitants has invested heavily in electronic aids in recent years. – Especially during the pandemic, we saw how important this is. We received additional funds to purchase these computers, which have become very popular. In addition, there are many older people who have bought their own machines, she says. – Many elderly people can live longer at home before they have to go to an institution. It provides increased coping because the elderly can achieve more themselves. For us in the municipality, it is about freeing up resources in care for the elderly. – So the municipality saves money? – Not directly, but we manage to do more tasks with the resources we have, says Beate Aunet. Beate Aunet from Overhalla municipality says they are consciously investing in the use of digital solutions in elderly care. – It frees up resources that enable us to complete more tasks, she says. Photo: Espen Sandmo / news 300 Norwegian municipalities are involved Over 300 Norwegian municipalities have participated in the National Welfare Technology Programme, and worked systematically with the introduction of welfare technology. KS is the municipal sector’s interest and employer organisation. They believe that the use of what they call welfare technology will become increasingly important in the future when the wave of elderly people hits us full force. – If the municipalities succeed in adopting technology to a greater extent, it can provide benefits such as increased quality and care capacity, in addition to reduced time spent. At the same time, it is important that older people also use smart watches, robot vacuum cleaners and smart lighting, which help make everyday life easier, says regional director of KS in Trøndelag, Anniken Kjær Haraldsen. – But it is a cross of thought that we spend a lot of money on refurbishing the home, but not as much on making arrangements for general technology that enables you to live longer at home, in a safe way, she continues. Subject manager Kathinka Vik at the Equality and Discrimination Ombudsman says they are paying close attention because they know that older people have weaker digital skills than others. Photo: Thomas B Eckhoff / Thomas Eckhoff Weaker digital skills The Equality and Discrimination Ombudsman follows such cases closely because they know that many older people have weaker digital skills than the younger people in society. – But we know that the municipalities are working to introduce more welfare technology in the future. Because the technology is becoming more accessible, and public actors and private individuals see the utility of this, says specialist Kathinka Vik to news. – Digital alienation is a social problem, and the municipalities must, as public actors, take their share of this responsibility. We are generally positive about products and services that are so easy to use that they help prevent digital alienation, she continues.
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Birgit (92) in Overhalla manages on her own with the help of digital aids – news Trøndelag
