Everyday Ageism: CHRISTA D’SOUZA says being old enough to be a grandparent doesn’t necessarily mean you’re computer-illiterate
- UK-based GPs suggest NHS-approved health apps to only one in 25 over 55-ers
- Christa D’Souza says apps can remind you to take pills and monitor symptoms
- Columnist argues assuming people can’t use smartphone is dangerous to health
It’s the last tolerated prejudice. But Femail’s had enough. It’s time we called out those day-to-day moments when we’re patronised for no longer being young…
I love an app. Who, frankly, doesn’t? So it’s a real disappointment to read that doctors think us older folk are too doddery to handle them.
I refer to a recent report by the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps which finds that while GPs are happy to recommend NHS-approved health apps to one in ten people under the age of 35, they recommend those same apps to only one in 25 over 55-ers and a minuscule one in 50 over 65-ers.
Christa D’Souza (pictured) says assuming people over the age of 55 can’t use smartphones is not only patronising, it’s dangerous to health
If you are in your 70s and haven’t been told by your doctor of this nifty tech method to remind you to take your pills and/or monitor your symptoms then that just proves the accuracy of these findings, doesn’t it?
Can I remind all you GPs who look like sixth formers that just because we are old enough to be your grandparents, doesn’t necessarily mean we are computer-illiterate. Not telling us about these NHS apps simply pushes us to use one of the 400,000 random ones out there, most of which are not medically approved.
Assuming we have no idea how to use smartphones is not just patronising, it’s dangerous to our health.
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