Many different information technology initiatives are organised by the Third Age Foundation. Two current initiatives include an Internet Café and IT classes.

Internet Café

The Internet Café operates every Monday afternoon, in the Third Age Centre, aimed specifically at older people.  Three laptops are available for use. Older people drop in, access the Internet and know that they can ask the Third Age Foundation staff for help if they need it.

The Internet Café aims to bridge the digital divide and it encourages older people to get to grips with the World Wide Web, expand their skills and knowledge base, keep in touch with friends and relatives abroad, research hobbies and interests, locate good holiday offers and cheap flights, download application forms and access various kinds of information.

This project was established in Jan 2006, with the assistance of funding received from the Department of the Taoiseach’s e-Inclusion Fund. This is just one in a long line of projects that has been developed by the Third Age Centre to encourage older people to embrace advancements in information technology.

Information technology classes

IT classes currently run on Monday afternoons and Thursday evenings in the Third Age Centre. We have developed IT training specifically for older people and designed specifically to meet their needs and aspirations. The provision of tailored training for older people in IT skills such as word processing, spreadsheets, surfing the net, and using e-mail has long been a part of the curriculum of our lifelong learning initiatives.

The initial development of the training was supported by CAIT (Community Application of Information Technology). In 2001, this initiative was the catalyst for many other IT initiatives including live web links with children from our local national school, bringing a new technological advance to our Living History model project. Our members also participated at a conference in England via webcam, presenting a paper on the activities that they were involved in at the TAF.

“The internet café participants feel comfortable because they are among friends and people of their own age group. The café operates in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, and the older people know that they can call upon the staff of the Third Age Centre for help and assistance if they need it” explained Mary Nally.

“The aim of the IT training is to introduce technology into the lives of older people, through the development of an innovative programme that stimulates an interest in information and communication technologies and highlights it’s potential”- insists Anne Dempsey.