Piaras Kelly PR – Public Relations in Ireland

Here’s another tidbit I missed out on yesterday because I was moving house. The BBC reports that more than half of the over-55′s online say that the Net gives them a new lease of life.

It’s a fantastic way of engaging with the elderly, especially when you consider the comments of David Sinclair, social inclusion policy manager of Help the Aged, “The Internet can be an effective means of delivering access to vital services and information about health, hobbies and employment, as well as helping older people keep in touch with friends and family and access vital public services”

Research has shown that more people are turning to the local pharmacist than their doctor for medical advice, and it is only a matter of time before they’ll be able to prescribe medicine over the counter. With this in mind, organisations like Boots should definitely start looking into putting more emphasis on the net as a means of communication with the elderly.