Digital knowledge for seniors: The new Digicafé in Mettmann!

Digital knowledge for seniors: The new Digicafé in Mettmann!

The German Red Cross (DRK) in Mettmann has launched a new program to help older people make access to the digital world easier. The "Digicafé" offers in particular support in dealing with digital devices and starts on Wednesday, January 22nd, at 10 a.m. in the meeting center, Bahnstraße 55, in Mettmann. This offer takes place every two weeks and is created in a period of two hours. The goal is clear: older people should improve their skills in dealing with technology and thus participate more active in social life. RP online reports that The DRK employee Susann Ribbert is informed about the large influx of such offers in the region.

This day, many older people are overwhelmed with digitization. Often access to basic services does not succeed, for example to use packing stations that can only be opened via special apps. Erwin Knebel, a digital sponsor, estimates that about a third of the over 60 year olds in the region has never been on the Internet. In order to meet these difficulties, the digital sponsors in Mettmann offer consultation hours in which about 20 older people regularly seek support in dealing with technology. Typical questions often affect functional disorders of apps, error messages for printers or the use of video telephony.

digital skills for older people

The promotion of digital skills in older people is crucial to enable them to participate in social life. The Federal Ministry for Family, Seniors, Women and Youth emphasizes that education and digital skills promote the health and the health of older people . These skills make it possible to use the advantages of digitization, such as online banking, booking doctors or video calls with family and friends.

To support this target group, the Federal Ministry of Eatering has launched various initiatives. This includes the "digital pact age", which drives the digitization of older people and is supposed to create 300 local contact points until the end of the project. Mobile advisory teams provide further programs such as "Digital Engel Plus" that convey digital skills on site. In addition, the “Ki for good aging” project was launched to strengthen the competence of older people in dealing with artificial intelligence.

The importance of education in old age

Education in old age not only promotes digital participation, but also general well -being. According to the Federal Ministry of Eating, the aim of opening opportunities for digitization and education for all older people , regardless of gender, level or income. Already on April 1, 2025, the ESF-Plus funding program "Education and Commitment is a lifetime" (Bell), which supports educational and commitment opportunities for people aged 60 and over.

Technical support from initiatives such as the “Digicafé” of the DRK is therefore an important measure to help older people not be left behind in an increasingly digital world. It remains to be hoped that many of these offers can make use of and expand their digital skills.