29 October 2008
Broadband internet can allow older people to live independently for longer, according to the managing director of UK online centres, an organisation which provides millions of people across the country with internet access. Helen Milner said access to the web means older people can have their shopping delivered to their door and manage their finances remotely. They can even socialise without leaving their home by emailing friends and family or joining social networking sites. "People that have hobbies that they have abandoned or cannot do anymore physically can find other people that are interested in the same areas," Ms Milner explained. However, she said that until older people get to grips with broadband internet, they can be quite fearful about using it if they do not know anything about computers. Research carried out by Alliance & Leicester Current Accounts recently revealed that 58% of over-50s use the internet to manage their finances and 41% use it to book their holidays. Furthermore, almost one in five regularly log onto social networking websites.