Digital Skills +60: Technology at the service of the autonomy of older people
This program aims to introduce new technologies to people over 60 in a useful and practical way, and has already had almost 15,000 participants.
Blanca, Inma, and José Luis, all over 60, possess digital skills that defy stereotypes: they navigate the internet, book medical appointments online, and reserve digital theater tickets. They are three of the nearly 15,000 students who have participated in the Competències Digitals +60 project, promoted by Red.es and the "la Caixa" Foundation, among other organizations. Managing email and booking appointments online may seem like small tasks, but they are of great importance in an increasingly digital society. Therefore, Competències Digitales +60 works to bring new technologies to people over 60 in a useful and practical way. This training project includes a total of eight courses that address different everyday topics to facilitate digital integration and strengthen the autonomy and security of older adults: they learn to carry out online procedures, edit photos, organize trips, and interact safely on social media.
Autonomy, motivation and friends
Inma decided to participate because she felt she lacked technological knowledge and had fallen behind. She has always been aware that the internet is more important than ever for practically everything. That's why she's so enthusiastic about these training courses: "Now my knowledge gives me independence," she points out. Blanca, who joined the courses for similar reasons to Inma, explains that she signed up to catch up: "I was a bit out of date, and you have to keep learning," she summarizes. She's convinced that, even if they don't reach the skill level of younger people, people her age are perfectly capable of becoming proficient in these tasks. José Luis, on the other hand, came across the courses by chance, but he also emphasizes that the topics are very interesting. "What I liked most about the course was the format and the dedication of the instructors," he highlights. All three recommend the courses to friends and people their age, encouraging them to learn and train to become as independent as possible in terms of digital procedures.
Bringing technology closer to older people
The training courses, which are in-person and free of charge, combine eight hours of theoretical and practical sessions with four hours of personalized tutoring, guaranteeing support tailored to each participant's needs. Each person can take a maximum of six workshops, which are held in more than 400 computer labs at the "la Caixa" Foundation's senior centers across seventeen autonomous communities. The project is part of the Generation D initiative, promoted by Red.es—an entity attached to the Ministry of Digital Transformation—and financed by the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan through the European Union's Next Generation funds. Given the "la Caixa" Foundation's extensive experience in promoting digital skills among older adults, the organization was selected as the 2024 grant recipient to implement the program in Spain.