43776 (2024). Ingrid Leary to the Minister for Seniors

43776 (2024). Ingrid Leary to the Minister for Seniors: How is the Government working on reducing social isolation for seniors and supporting digital literacy to help combat abuse?

Hon Casey Costello: A range of initiatives are in place to reduce social isolation and support digital literacy to help combat abuse. A Digital Literacy Training for Seniors Programme has been in place since 2020. The purpose of the programme is to improve digital inclusion for older people and increase their agency and confidence while online. This supports seniors to better recognise potential scams or indicators of financial abuse, increase skills to protect themselves, advocate for their interests and seek help. The Office for Seniors also works with agencies such as New Zealand's Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT NZ) and community groups like NetSafe to exchange information about scams and online abuse and share information and resources with older people across New Zealand. Provision of information through a bi-monthly Seniors Newsletter and through the Office for Seniors website promotes activities and available services and organisations working to reduce social isolation for Seniors, such as The Selwyn Foundation and Age Concern New Zealand. I am also advised that Health NZ funds a visiting service delivered by Age Concern NZ that matches lonely or socially isolated older people with trained and police checked volunteers who spend time each week sharing conversation and activities with them.