Salix Homes has teamed up with Salford Council to have free wi-fi installed at its eight sheltered housing complexes for the elderly across the city.
The initiative comes after Salford was awarded £2 million from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to install free wi-fi access points in public buildings including libraries and community centres.
Sue Sutton, executive director of operations, Salix Homes, said, “Our aim is to get as many of our older tenants onto the internet as possible, which we hope will help combat the feelings of isolation which are so common for older people and enable them to reconnect with their families and friends online.
Salix Homes has been running basic ‘silver surfer’ IT sessions for tenants at its sheltered housing complexes, which have proved a real hit with the older generation who are eager to explore the online world.
Hilda Ellis, a Salix Homes tenant, said, “My family bought me a tablet because they said I had to get into the modern world, but I didn’t have a clue what to do with it – I didn’t even know how to turn it on.
“The IT sessions have been brilliant. I’ve learnt how to email and Skype and now I use it to keep in contact with my family in Australia.”
