Digital support and digital buddies to prevent exclusion
As society digitalises, many services have gone online. For example, digital care pathways and online chat appointments have already been tested in the healthcare services of the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County. But what if one's digital skills are lacking? To address this need, we have developed the DigiOn project.
Attitudes and experiences related to digitalisation vary. Many people have mixed feelings about digital services: they would perhaps like to use them but lack the required skills. Without the appropriate device or the skills to operate online, some have been left out of services and communities. Others do use the services but require a lot of support and assistance. According to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency, 39% of Finns need of digital support.
Support with everyday digital skills
We all need digital support at times—there is no shame in asking. Digital buddies are peer supporters who assist others in learning everyday digital skills. As part of the DigiOn project, digital buddy training has been organised eight times in Western Uusimaa. The Digital Buddy program aims to aid with using digital services in organisations and everyday meeting places, such as in Kivenkolo at Kivenlahti.
Being a digital buddy is about walking alongside one another and thinking and reflecting on things together. The idea is that it is easier for someone in need of support to approach a familiar person from their own organisation and share their experiences of incompetence and even shame.
Digital skills unlock new opportunities
Training digital buddies has been of the goals of the DigiOn project. Another aim is to provide training for employees at organisations as well as for social and health care professionals. Providing digital support is part of the evolving job description of a social and health care professional. Digital skills open new opportunities for clients and streamline services. This requires a professional to be familiar with digital services and to have the skills for providing motivating guidance.
The course “Motivating Digital Guidance in Social and Health Services Client Work” is an additional training course aimed at organisation workers, volunteers, and professionals in the health and social services sector. The online course is free of charge, but registration is required. Registration for the course is open throughout June. The course is organised as part of the “Digionnea kaikille” project run by Laurea University of Applied Sciences and the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County.
Link to the course (Finnish only): Motivoiva digineuvonta sote-alan asiakastyössä - Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulu(external link)
Where can I get support?
During the digital support community workshops organised by the DigiOn project, the participants created a digital support symbol. The symbol indicates, among other things, that the organisation offers support and guidance in the use of digital devices and services. The symbol can be freely downloaded from the following website: Digituen symboli — SeniorSurf(external link).
The Finnish Association for the Welfare of Older People maintains a digital support map, which indicates where elderly people can receive digital support in different parts of Finland. Check out the map on the SeniorSurf website(external link).
In Uusimaa, for example, Enter ry(external link) is a significant provider of digital support and offers support at various locations.
Digital Buddy Helps! See the videos on the YouTube channel of the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County:
Joy in everyday life (Finnish): https://youtu.be/J84PPyHAwnQ(external link)
Joy in everyday life (Swedish): https://youtu.be/AfIedgJrjtc(external link)
Joy in everyday life (English): https://youtu.be/Gx4BdL5eosE(external link)
Make forms work for you (Finnish): https://youtu.be/vSdt1OW751w(external link)
Make forms work for you (Swedish): https://youtu.be/Ubc5OEtRWYw(external link)
Make forms work for you (English): https://youtu.be/9-u7aZPRnqU(external link)
Read more about the DigiOn project on the Laurea website (Finnish only): DigiOn - Digionnea kaikille - Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulu(external link)