LVAS breaks unnecessary prejudices towards seniors and digitalization
On a sunny Wednesday in February, we had the opportunity to visit Lahden Vanhusten Asuntosäätiö’s (Lahti Elderly Housing Foundation) new Kartanonkulma, where One4all’s digital services are available for senior residents. We interviewed residents about their use of digital services. We also interviewed the resident advisor Mari Kokko about her experiences with seniors’ digital skills.
The residents of Kartanonkulma, completed at the end of November 2022, are all seniors. The facility utilizes a digital booking calendar for common areas and services, as well as a resident application and digital notice boards for resident communication, information, and connectivity.
Digital services are a significant part of daily life for senior residents, as the facility operates on a 100% digital communication and booking model – meaning everything functions digitally!
Supporting seniors’ digital skills development
Traditionally, seniors’ digital skills have been underestimated, and the combination of seniors and digitalization often evokes conflicting emotions. We asked Mari how the residents of Kartanonkulma reacted to the digital implementation.
“Seniors vary greatly in their digital skills. Some have incorporated the use of various digital services into their daily lives, and housing-related digital services are just an addition to that. Others, however, are almost completely unfamiliar, finding themselves in completely new territory and thus perhaps a bit bewildered. Initially, there were also some objections to the digital nature of the services,” Mari explains.
However, the foundation does not view this as a problem but rather as a challenge with a solution.
“LVAS wants to be a pioneer. We consider it important to lower the digital threshold for the elderly and thus ensure that senior residents do not fall behind,” Mari continues.
Koulutuskeskus Salpaus students supporting senior residents
When facing challenges, the key is to find the right methods to achieve the desired solution. In the case of Kartanonkulma residents, the solution was found very close by. Upon the residents’ move to the facility, a group of welfare technology students from the neighboring Koulutuskeskus Salpaus arrived to assist them. These young students supported the residents in adopting digital services as well as other everyday devices.
Mari describes the project as a success. The residents were satisfied, and she herself received tremendous help, as it would be impossible for one person to assist everyone at once.
The greatest realization has undoubtedly been the acknowledgment of the need for assistance and guidance. It has been understood that support and guidance are necessary, and through them, even an inexperienced user can learn to use digital services – regardless of age or starting level.
LVAS has carried out similar implementation projects with Salpaus in its other locations, and according to Mari, the experiences have been positive for both residents and students.
The students gained valuable and practical learning experiences from the residents. The residents we met fondly remember the helpful students. “They were such nice boys,” and “They just fixed everything and knew everything right away,” the residents recall.
Fostering community through digitalization for senior residents
In the future, the aim is to select a few active support persons from among the Kartanonkulma residents who can help if and when residents have questions regarding digital services. This approach embodies an important goal of Kartanonkulma, which is to encourage community engagement.
“Residents can solve challenges among themselves and support each other. If something seems difficult and a solution is sought together, it also greatly strengthens the sense of community,” Mari explains. This comment underscores the courage to face everyday challenges. It is futile to imagine that challenges will not arise, regardless of age, especially concerning digital technology.
The way the resident advisor speaks about the residents, encouraging and believing in their ability to learn, is heartwarming. Mari points out that it is also important for the residents themselves to learn – nowadays, it is easy to fall outside of society if digital skills are lacking.
Digital guidance helps solve residents’ challenges
During our visit, an hour of digital guidance is scheduled in the residents’ common space, the living room, on the booking calendar. Mari has reserved a weekly digital session for residents at the beginning of their housing journey, so they can easily seek support for any digital service challenges. Upon our arrival, three ladies await us in the living room, two of whom have specific issues regarding digital services. All three greet Mari with smiles and waves, clearly anticipating the shared moment with the resident advisor.
Mari’s first task is to help an elderly lady named Rauni figure out how to book laundry slots directly from the digital notice board. Although they’ve practiced using a mouse together on a computer, Rauni has had some difficulties. Mari suggests making the reservation by logging into the display screen, as text can be enlarged and the booking calendar can be viewed on a larger area without needing a mouse. However, Rauni needs assistance with logging in, so we move to the lobby near the display screens to practice.
As in most things, practice here brings results quite soon. Logging in doesn’t work on the first try, but after a moment of practice, things start to flow smoothly, and a sense of achievement fills the lobby. “I just need to practice. My granddaughter said we’ll get me my own tablet and maybe even a smartphone once I learn to use these,” Rauni shares.
Who knows, perhaps the sense of accomplishment she gained from using the digital notice board will lead her to learn other new services as well. The feeling of success motivates, and belief in one’s abilities grows – something we can all recognize.
While observing Rauni’s practice, we received an excellent practical lesson on how to improve the user interface of the digital notice board display from the perspective of a senior user. Invaluable information that will help us further develop the service.
Resident advisor easily connects with residents through digital means
Another resident’s computer is in need of a system update, and social work student Nikita, who is completing her internship, helps with that. Amidst digital support, residents chat about this and that, and the time spent together seems enjoyable for all parties involved.
“When guiding on digital matters, you get to know the residents and, in the process, talk about other housing-related issues. This way, residents will continue to feel comfortable reaching out to the resident advisor,” Mari summarizes.
Multigenerational block enables community engagement
LVAS’s Kartanonkulma is located in the same residential block as two housing companies of Avain Yhtiöt Oyj, which offer rental apartments and ASO apartments for all ages. The block’s common spaces, such as the living room, laundry room, and fitness room, are located on Kartanonkulma’s ground floor, enabling residents of all ages to meet and engage in communal activities.
“Still, we haven’t encountered each other much; of course, the younger ones are usually at work, and us seniors often take over this living room during the daytime,” one of the residents explains.
However, enjoyable communal activities are already available in the living room based on the notice and booking calendar on the display screen, such as weekly game sessions and the beloved bingo.
It’s easy to imagine how it would be pleasant for a family with children to come and spend their everyday life in the shared living room. The little chefs in the common area’s play kitchen would surely have excellent assistant cooks from the older, experienced chefs.
Hopefully, residents of different generations in the block find each other, and community engagement can enrich the everyday lives of all block residents. Even during our short visit, it’s apparent that no one has to be alone in the living room: there are plenty of conversation partners, and everyone enjoys each other’s company.
This article is an ai-generated translation of the original article in Finnish.