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ICT SKILLS IN SOCIALCARE
mag.Zdenkica StanecSamobor- CROATIA 2014
New world of digital inclusion
Volunteers in overcoming the isolation of older people
Care-workers in home care and older persons are exposed to the risk of social exclusion as they are both often at the margins of society and likely to be the victim of exclusion in the fast-changing digital world. ICTs and associated competences have been shown to be a critical component in mitigating these risks of exclusion and helping to support an increased quality of life. The special quality to overcome the isolation of the elderly in many countries today are volunteers. This work is dedicated to them and those who teach them.
Barriers to using and accessingthe internet
1. The main barrier appears to be a lack of understanding of and confidence with ‘how it works’. A number of fears and anxieties were expressed about ‘doing something wrong’, as well as internet security.
2. There is a wide variation in the extent to which people are interested in using the internet.
However, only a minority can be defined as strong ‘refuseniks’. For others, being ‘dismissive’ appears to be a way to justify their lack of confidence and this group is likely to be more open about trying the internet if they receive appropriate encouragement and support.
3. However, a strong sense of inertia prevails even among those who are most interested. Many feel it will be ‘too hard’ or that they are ‘too old to learn’ something new.
4. Affordability is also an issue for some particularly those with the lowest incomes). However, this appears to be outweighed by other barriers, with several people commenting that the price of computers and internet packages has come down.
Potential enablers1. Despite a low level of understanding of how the internet works, awareness of what the internet can
do and its benefits is surprisingly high.
2. Most acknowledge that the internet is already important (although not necessarily to them) and expect its importance to increase further in the not-too-distant future.
3. This research identified that there are some critical junctures and circumstances that could trigger use of the internet in older people.
Overcoming barriersand leveraging enablers
A number of suggestions were made about practical ways of motivating andhelping older people to access and use computers and the internet: – awareness-raising – training; – subsidies; – ongoing help.
Conclusions and implicationsfrom key findings
Younger age groups (55–64) and those who are excluded rather than dismissive are likelyto be most open to approaches designed to encourage and enable internet take-up.
- those with long-term health conditions or mobility impairments;- those who live in remote or rural locations;- those who are socially isolated or lonely.
Becoming a volunteer
Volunteering can be personally rewarding and helps you 'give something back' to your community. Volunteers can choose from thousands of different opportunities
Why volunteer?
Volunteering helps you make new friends, increases your confidence and lets you play a part in your community. It can also give you a better chance of getting paid work, improving your career prospects or getting a place at university by helping you to:
- practise the skills you have- build your confidence- discover new hobbies and interests- meet people who can help you find paid work- include volunteering experience on your CV- show employers you can keep regular hours and handle commitment- have things to talk about in a job interview get eferences
Other benefits of volunteering include:
- having fun doing something you've never tried before- a sense of satisfaction and achievement the pportunity
to make new friends with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences
Examples of some of the ways you can volunteer are:
• caring for animals and wildlife • setting up a volunteer scheme at your workplace • spending time mentoring and befriending a young person or refugee• working outdoors to improve the environment • working on local community projects
Before you start
Once you have found an organisation it is useful to go and meet them for an informal chat and find out more about what you would like to do. This is a chance for you to ask questions about the volunteering opportunity, see the place you would be working and meet some of the people you might be working with.
Some of the points you might want to ask:
• what the role involves • whether you will receive any expenses to help pay for your travel and food costs • what training is offered to help you do the role • if there are any qualifications you can gain while volunteering • whether you will have a supervisor or mentor to discuss your questions or concerns
10 ways to motivate volunteers
1. Identify your volunteers’ motivations early. Understand why they want to volunteer with your organisation and determine if their needs would be met through their volunteer experience.
2. Match their interests to the relevant volunteer positions. Do not ask them to assume positions they do not want.
3. Provide a comfortable place for volunteers to interact and rest.
4. Build a volunteer-friendly atmosphere in your organisation. Encourage your staff to acknowledge the presence of volunteers by smiling at them or saying thank you when they have completed their volunteer jobs.
5. Provide and prepare sufficient support facilities to
volunteers so that they can finish their ssignments
successfully.
6. Identify volunteers’ training needs and provide training which will enable them to perform their assignments competently.
7. Provide adequate welfare for volunteers such as meals or refreshment when they volunteer over a meal time.
8. Celebrate successes with volunteers by throwing them a party or give them surprise gifts.
9. Organise volunteer feedback sessions with your management and welcome their suggestions for the volunteer programmes
10. Publicise the contributions of volunteers to your stakeholders through your newsletter, website or notice board.
And most importantly
1. Empathy
Empathy is essential in a caring role – it’s about putting yourself in someone else’s shoes. Empathy is all about trying to understanding why a person feels as they do and showing compassion. A good trick is to imagine the person you’re volunteering with is your grandparent, or one of your parents in the future – how do you think they would be feeling about their situation and how would you want them to be treated?
2. Person-centred care
Person-centred care is a philosophy of providing care that is centred around the person, and not just their health needs. We are all individual hence it is not appropriate to assume that because two people have, for example, dementia or a hearing impairment, that they both have the same care and support needs.
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