Free tablets program puts seniors in touch

Mobile tablets will be handed out to 650 seniors to help them chat with volunteers, friends and family in a new program designed to combat loneliness in the community.

Mobile tablets will be handed out to 650 seniors across Australia to help them chat with volunteers, friends and family in a new program designed to combat loneliness. 

The use of technology to reduce isolation in the lives of seniors isn’t new; community organisation Aurous has provided a Digital Community Visitors Service (DCVS), which connects seniors with friendly volunteers over video chat, for the past five years. In addition, it has offered a traditional community visiting program for over 20 years.

The easy-to-use tablets, which will be pre-loaded with bespoke software designed to make video chatting even easier, will allow owners to chat to a variety of volunteers as well as their loved ones, whenever they like.

The service is free, having been funded by the federal government’s $46 million Community Visitors Scheme (CVS).

Technology is being used to help isolated seniors connect.
Technology is being used to help isolated seniors connect.

To be eligible, seniors must receive a home care package in one of Aurous’s 54 designated regions; the program will target people predominantly in remote and regional areas.

Shirley, who has been using the DCVS for two years, hesitated when her home care worker asked if she’d like a device.

“I didn’t know anything about them”, she says, but now believes the tablet has greatly improved her life.

 “My life wasn’t as full as it is now before the service. I lost my husband and I was all alone here. I would sit and not do too much because I am not able to get around on my own.

“My days were very empty, but now I look forward to talking on the tablet. I didn’t know how to manage a tablet, but now I use it to get my books from the library on my own.”

Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Ken Wyatt AM believes ageing “should put up no barriers to any person in our society”, and says the new technology helps to tear down those barriers.

“Addressing the social isolation experienced by too many older Australians is critical and, while there will never by a substitute for one-on-one, person-to-person contact, new technologies are opening up exciting prospects for the future of care,” he says.

Mr Wyatt has pledged a further $10 million to the CVS.

“Our government will also develop a Seniors Connected Program to address the silent battle of loneliness that thousands of older Australians live with every day.”

Aurous is also seeking volunteers who would like to be part of the program. 
To find out more about the program or to make a referral visit www.aurous.org.au, call 1800 287 687 or email cvs@aurous.org.au.

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Tags: aurous, community-visitors-scheme, Ken Wyatt, news-ccr-4,

12 thoughts on “Free tablets program puts seniors in touch

  1. I am wondering about the free tablet program. I live on mount Tamborine im very lonely and suffering depression, Are there any i pads still available.?

  2. I am a disability pensioner >I bought a laptop many years ago from Centrelink.I just found out there are free tablets program .Are they still available if so how do I apply. I would like one for easy connection to people.I do not go out much and this would be a great benefit for me as I have lung disease and dont like to go out in crouds My husband is my carer and we share this laptop but I would love to have my own tablet . I think I could learn a lot from the use of my tablet Many thanks

  3. I live on the yorke peninsula and my husband and I have no family here. Our son is in q/land and daughter in nsw. I no longer get about. This program would be wonderful for me as I am almost totally bed ridden. To be considered would be appreciated.

  4. Hi there,
    I am a librarian in the West Australian town of Narrogin.
    There are a few housebound patients that we deliver books to in the local rest-home that come to mind that I think could benefit from this programme immensely.
    If there are any left or if there are any more around, would you kindly get in touch with one of us at the Narrogin Shire library.

    Thank you.

    Jade.

  5. I belong to a small community church that meets at the Blacktown Senior Citizenship Centre at 2 Gribble Place, Blacktown every Sunday. An 80-year old member recently lost her husband. She relied on him and his mobile phone to access our meetings via ZOOM. Our Wednesday prayer meetings are usually via Zoom. With the lockdown, she has been isolated. The only way she is able to “join in” the last 3 weeks is to use her landline to phone one of our members and listen. The rest of us is not able to hear her. She turns 80 years old in December. She is frail and relies on a daughter who lives a distance. Other church members help her like with shopping for her and her dog, and giving her some cooked food.
    She hasn’t gone through assessment by any aged care age agencies. She will need this in due course. At present, our church Minister heard about this free tablets program. Another elderly member of the church told him about a free device she got. Our other member I’ve written about would certainly benefit from this and improve the quality of her life.

  6. My name is Marilee Burtt and this is the first time I have seen this program. Obviously there is a great need for such a program. I would like to say that people are always buying new and the latest technology and just throw away old ones or just put them in the shed something.
    I think it would a great idea and environment friendly if maybe there was some way to get used tablets or Ipads and have serviced and programs installed for all the seniors that need to have conversations with others. Certainly would be cheaper way of getting more elders out of loneliness and depression.

  7. My 92 yr old mother is in need of something much easier to use than her basic mobile phone. Both her sons and 3 young grandchildren live in Western Australia. I would like to know which ipad was used and are any still accessible? She lives in Glenorchy Tasmania in a private rental, she has major mobility issues and arthritic hands. Her eyes have deteriorated and she is no longer able to read books. I was hoping to look at a device able to connect with the audible books from the library. I look forward to your reply.

  8. My mother has just turned 91 and am in need of a device that will help with visibility and is user friendly so she can stay in contact with family. Live near Tin Can Bay, Queensland. Thank you

  9. Please help me to get a free tablet for my husband he is confined to our home as he has cancer he is unable leave home because he can not get Covid he would love to keep in touch with family and friends I cannot afford one as we are both on a aged pension it would make his life so much better and happier he is 79

  10. Hi I live alone and am wondering if there are any tablets still available and what i would need to do to apply please?

  11. Please I would love to receive a free tablet as mine got stolen. Tablets help us keep in touch with the world and help us receive helpful information. If you guys can help that would be awesome.
    Regards P Jolly

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