We are all, I am sure, hoping for a happier new year, which is tricky at a time when public services are failing all around us and no-one seems to be listening. Is it time I wonder for those of us of a certain age to start protesting more?
I am sure many of us are upset by the lack of any movement from the government on dealing with the problems in the NHS, lack of social care, failing public transport – all issues which perhaps affect the elderly more than most. But there are other issues which also cause great concern.
I was really moved this week when I walked into a building society (not in Rye) and met an 80 year old woman in tears. With banks closing and making savings so they can increase their profits, there had been great excitement about the opening of a new building society. A physical building with people behind the counter who could help her set up an account. But no! All she was asking for was an appointment so that a member of staff could give her training and help her set up an account with them. It all has to be done digitally and apparently it’s not something they could help with “Ask your son to help you” was the response from the woman behind the counter. Her son, it appeared was “as useless as she was” and didn’t even know what an ‘app’ was.
Those of us in the queue scratched our heads to find ways to help her. She had been thinking about approaching some local IT specialists. That might be one solution but should we be encouraging the elderly to give all their passwords and financial information to people who are not employed by the financial institutions who are benefiting?
It really affected me – seeing her despair about not being able to have a bank account that wasn’t set up on the phone, iPad or computer. I suggested Citizens Advice but there must be so many people wanting to see the Citizens Advice in the midst of all the problems around us.
We know the closure of banks and digitalisation of financial management has been a problem for the elderly and those who don’t have or can’t afford these devices. Closure of banks has been much talked about on Rye News, but isn’t it time we all started to get angry and do something about it. Does anyone know of banks or buildings societies who are offering training and support for those who need it? Surely with the enormous bonuses going to already rich bankers, often for poor performance, these organisations can afford to provide training and support for those who need it?
Shouldn’t we all be asking our MPs what they are doing about this continuing problem of having to be a) online and b) digitally competent? Even if we were competent in our earlier lives, what happens when eyesight fails and we can no longer access these so called services? We have become such an uncaring society and maybe those of us of a certain age have to call out these institutions and politicians who don’t seem to be addressing our needs at all. We can’t go backwards but we could collectively be demanding better services?
Image Credits: free from Pexels Suzy-hazelwood .
It is a fact that, in general, we are all living longer than in years gone by which results in a larger number of elderly people in the population, shouldn’t they, therefore, have their needs much better catered for?
I think it is sad that technology challenged people of any age, but in particular those for whom it is extremely difficult due to advancing years, should be asked to even contemplate undertaking the stress of training in the subject.
This is a problem which definitely exists, sadly. I’m in my late 60’s and neither want nor have a printer. I’m expected to print off a label in order to return any unwanted goods ordered online. Even offering to pay for return postage by Royal Mail is refused and I’m asked “Can’t someone in your family, or a neighbour print the label off for you?”. I always respond that I wouldn’t dream of asking and how it takes one’s independence away (at any age) to be expected to rely on others.
I realised last year, during the storms and power cuts, and the phone lines were down, how stupidly helpless we’d become on modern tech. This story is another example I agree, but it just occured to me, couldn’t she open a post office account?
There are very few banks or Building societies who still open long hours and encourage in person visitors – one I have come across is METROBANK .
There are branches in Ashford , Tunbridge Well and Eastbourne according to the website .
My now deceased 90 year old mother who never used a computer in her life and never had a mobile phone had an account there .
ALSO CALLED INTO NATIONWIDE in HASTINGS recently and they were having in branch training sessions for non IT literate people showing potential account holders how to open an account .
Of course after opening an account it can be problematic for someone without a computer to use an existing account BUT both Nationwide and First Direct and maybe others have telephone banking so you can ring a UK landline number and do most transactions.
I agree with everything written above.
What a pity there was no ‘joined up’ thinking before Barclays, Lloyds, Nat West and HSBC closed in Rye.
One building could have been saved and then each bank could be attendance for a different day each week so customers could pay in/withdraw cash, open an account or make enquiries about any issue they may have. The cost of running the building could have been shared by the four banks.
This will not be possible now as the old Barclays and Nat.West banks have reverted to domestic dwellings, Lloyds is now a shop and HSBC is now an Art Gallery.