Elderly people feel lonely and suicidal thoughts under the epidemic

The epidemic prevents direct communication between people. For the elderly living alone, facing explosive epidemic prevention information and being unable to go out freely, they may feel depressed at any time, and even have suicidal thoughts. Organized online seminars were held recently and social networking platforms were invited. , Senior executives of electronic payment innovation and technology companies, elderly support organizations and experts talked about how to use technology to help the elderly through the current difficulties, so that they can feel the "temperature of technology."

At a forum organized by "Tech For Good Asia" and its partner "Solis Strategy", AlipayHK representative Mr. Leung Yijian (third from left), Ms. Tan Junlan from facebook (second from left), and Dr. Huang Bingkang, an expert in neurosurgery (left) Discuss together how technology applications can cater for the needs of the elderly.

(Respondents provide pictures)

Social platforms focus on reducing the spread of false information

"Tech For Good Asia" and its partner "Solis Strategy" recently co-organized a webinar on the topic of "Connecting to the Wisdom Era of Social Mobilization", which invited innovative technology companies such as social networking platform Facebook and local e-wallet AlipayHK to participate , To discuss the inconvenience and troubles caused by the near customs clearance, social distancing, and related restrictions to the elderly during the epidemic period since last year, how social media is committed to providing users with timely and reliable information, and how technology such as electronic wallets can be improved During the epidemic, the elderly have various problems at different levels, so as to understand how to narrow the distance between the elderly and the outside world through digitalization.

Ms. Tan Junlan, Facebook’s Hong Kong Public Policy Manager who was present, said that since the outbreak of the epidemic early last year, the dissemination of information related to the epidemic has been particularly important. Cooperating with third-party verification centers, we will devote resources to help users obtain the latest and most reliable information, and regularly organize community training and public education activities. For example, the We Think Digital project launched in Hong Kong at the beginning of this year is to cultivate the public’s digital literacy. Improve the ability to distinguish between true and false information on the Internet.

Two elders who learned to use electronic payment because of participating in the smart phone class for the elderly jointly organized by AlipayHK and regional organizations: 73-year-old Wen Jie (middle) and 72-year-old Ying Jie (left) expressed in the forum that technology has brought them The value and fun that comes.

(Respondents provide pictures)

Elderly learn electronic technology to save time

Leung Yijian, Director of AlipayHK's electronic payment platform, pointed out that in the past few months, companies have been co-organizing "Elderly Mobile Classes" with different regional organizations and elderly websites to teach the elderly to use smartphone applications to check bus arrivals. Time, the online registration of public hospitals, and the application of electronic payment have provided convenience for them, and the response in the community has been quite positive, which also confirms the concept of "technology has a temperature".

Sister Wen, 73, who lives in Lok Wah Village, Kwun Tong, participated in the seminar. She was one of the students in the mobile phone class for the elderly.

She said that with the help of volunteers, she learned how to use the e-wallet to pay monthly water, electricity, coal and mobile phone bills, instead of queuing up to pay bills as before. The time saved can take care of her husband with limited mobility. The most difficult period of the epidemic.

Feng Zhiheng, the business operation director of the front-line safety bell of the Elderly Housing Association, pointed out that the elderly were worried about the lack of epidemic prevention materials from the first wave of the epidemic, and then because they needed to stay at home, they did not dare to contact their usual relatives and friends, which alienated their relationship and hindered their social life; Coupled with the overcrowded living environment, the prevention of the epidemic at home for the elderly has caused more friction between family members, and the existing contradictions have further intensified. Some elderly people are facing continuous anxiety, emotional problems and depression are getting worse, and even suicidal thoughts have emerged.

On the other hand, caregivers have also increased their pressure due to the above problems.

In addition to a 24-hour service hotline to support elderly users, the First-line Safety Bell of the Association for the Elderly Homes has actively provided technical information training for the elderly during the epidemic.

Dr. Huang Bingkang, a neurosurgery expert who often promotes knowledge about stroke prevention on social media, explained the physical and mental health problems caused by the epidemic to the elderly and the elderly with chronic diseases in the event, and introduced technological advances in the online seminar. For the positive impact on the diagnosis process and pace, we look forward to new medical technologies that use artificial intelligence to make preliminary diagnosis for patients and the human-computer interface (Human-Computer Interface) in the future.

The elderly cannot go out freely due to the epidemic, and the reduced contact with others can easily lead to negative emotions.

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The 72-year-old sister Ying said that the epidemic can indeed feel the convenience brought by the application of technology. The updated information of social media and contactless electronic payment have indirectly helped her to tide over the difficulties of the epidemic.

The elders at the conference hope that different technology companies can uphold the principle of "technology has a temperature" and will work together more in the future to bring convenience and practical benefits to the general public and benefit the society.

"Tech For Good Asia" refers to the great pleasure of bringing together elderly users, front-line social service providers and technology platforms to share their views in the seminar, so as to improve the digital inclusion problem faced by the elderly and take a meaningful step forward. It is hoped that this online seminar can draw the attention of the community to the problems faced by the elderly in the epidemic, and let everyone know how digital technology can help the elderly to keep in touch with the society and overcome the difficulties of the epidemic.

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