Roughly, a quarter of Malta’s population is over 60. What challenges, within the communications and technological context, does this present?

With the growing presence of technology in today’s daily life, there is an increasing digital divide between generations, but also within the older age group, with a majority who have not yet embraced the use of smartphones, tablets and new services. Age in itself is not the challenge. The issue is that 67 per cent of those over 55 years of age have never used the internet and thus, this segment of the population is clearly not gaining any of the advantages of ICT and the internet and is unlikely to be ­leveraging on the benefits that these ­technologies offer.

The Malta Communications Authority’s objective is to mitigate a greater risk of ­cognitive impairment, frailty and social exclusion with considerable negative consequences for the elderly independence, quality of life, that of those who care for them, and for the sustainability of health and care systems.

What role does ICT play in instilling a mentality of productive ageing?

ICT should not be considered as the trigger for a mentality of productive ageing. ICT is simply the tool that enables individuals with such a mentality to become indeed more productive and promote seniors’ quality of life.

Hence the MCA’s educational programmes always promote and present ICT in relevant real life contexts. Participants learn to apply specific technologies to their specific needs and lifestyles. Consequently this facilitates their social interaction to remain active in the community.

Apart from productivity, does ICT also keep the older generations socially involved?

Those who have taken up the use of technology feel more enriched, informed, young and in touch with others as well as what is happening in society. In short, they feel more empowered and have an improved quality of life. The use of ICT is bridging the gap between generations in a way that has never been the case in the past. Children and grandchildren can share their technology expertise, teaching and giving support to their parents and relatives and creating a common ground in their relationship.

Can ICT also be used to provide health services to the older generations?

Roderick Marmarà, senior technical specialist, Information Society, Malta Communications Authority.

As an effect of the ageing of the population in general, the number of citizens with chronic diseases is increasing,especially among elderly people. This is a great challenge for both the well-being of the citizens and the public healthcare system. Healthcare solutions provided by the use of ICT, also known as eHealth, offer one solution to this problem.

The tools and services which contribute to eHealth provide better and more efficient healthcare services for all.

Such technologies empower patients to take more responsibility for their own health and quality of life, and they lead to better cost efficiency in the health sector. The use of eHealth technologies allows a mutually beneficial collaboration and involvement of patients and medical professionals in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. Overall, ICT can be used to ensure the top quality healthcare of citizens.

Those who have taken up the use of technology feel more enriched, informed, young and in touch with others

What role does the MCA play in ­promoting eAgeing?

The regulation of the electronic communications industry is not the only purpose of the MCA. Under its Information Society arm, the authority is constantly launching and driving new programmes as part of a wider initiative, looking at achieving widespread e-literacy, digital inclusion and the use of ICT as at tool to improve quality of life for all citizens, in particular, disadvantaged groups.

Some of these programmes have one main objective: to enable older people to make connections, build social networks and actively engage in their communities.

What initiatives or projects have you ­embarked upon?

Two of the most important programmes that were specifically developed for the ageing population are Live ICT and Ageing Well. For the Live ICT programme alone more than 1,000 individuals over the age of 65 attended a 20-hour course covering topics that included the introduction to the digital world, and the use of internet, e-mail, eGovernment services, digital communication, social media and ­electronic banking.

The aim of the Ageing Well initiative is to introduce elderly people to the ICT world using new technologies such as tablets. With its bigger screen and user-friendly interface, the tablet is an attractive device for 65-75 year olds, and is likely to increase in popularity for this generation. The objective is to support and help older people overcome some of their anxieties, build skills and develop their confidence in using technology.

What are the main aims of these ­initiatives?

The MCA has a significant role in helping government to meet the future social, economic and environmental needs of the Maltese ageing population by regularly defining and delivering programmes that have the objective of helping individuals discover the use and potential benefits of the most salient ICT tools online.

Using innovative methods in its training delivery approach, the MCA encourages ageing individuals to embrace ICT and integrate it in their daily life and help them develop online social skills in order to be actively engaged in the community.

Apart from promoting health, well-being, productivity and involvement for the older generations, can ICT also be a tool to help the younger generations ­appreciate the role of older persons in society?

Elderly people are respected for their knowledge and generally have a wealth of life experiences that should not be lost or wasted. Social media networks can be the ideal mediums to facilitate ­interaction between generations and create an information bridge for the ­effective ­sharing of knowledge and life experiences.

As part of the eAgeing initiatives the MCA is currently evaluating the creation of an online portal that would enable and promote the sharing of life ­experiences in a bid to preserve heritage and history that would have shaped our culture.