Politicians and experts are considering how to reduce the digital divide among seniors in Lithuania, as more services, such as health care and transportation, become increasingly digitised.
The shift has left many older adults struggling to access essential services. Representatives from the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson’s Office have suggested that the issue of digital exclusion could be addressed if social workers were to assist seniors with technological challenges.
“We are ageing very quickly in Lithuania. Many people are over 65 years old, and now we are transitioning to technology... We feel truly inadequate,” said Zita Žebrauskienė, president of the Third Age University Association.
According to Žebrauskienė, there are two types of seniors: those who try to learn and adapt, and those who feel they cannot, pushing them further into isolation.
She believes the digital divide could be alleviated if seniors participated in educational programmes, which are not limited to third-age universities. However, she notes that for many seniors, health problems, a complex e-health system, and a lack of necessary devices are significant barriers. The situation is especially challenging in rural areas, where access to services and technology is even more limited.
“We, seniors, could be included in the help process. We could support each other,” Žebrauskienė added.
She also highlighted the heightened anxiety among Lithuanian seniors due to the geopolitical situation and the looming threat of war. This anxiety, she argues, discourages them from engaging in activities aimed at reducing digital exclusion.
“They are restless, and sometimes they don’t even hear what you’re telling them,” she said.
When discussing digital skills training, Mintautė Jurkutė from the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson's Office emphasised that many seniors live far from educational programmes, cannot physically attend, or live in areas without libraries where such activities are held. “This group is the most challenging to reach,” she said.
Jurkutė suggested that social workers might be able to provide technological support to seniors.
“We’ve heard cases where, for example, a person can’t even leave their home due to health issues and doesn’t have the device to join training. What should they do if they need to register for a doctor’s appointment, pay taxes, or handle similar tasks? In these cases, social workers or some other municipal staff could provide digital assistance,” she said.
Discussions on the topic are ongoing, with proposals already submitted to the Ministry of Social Security and Labour.
MP Laurynas Šedvydis, chairman of the parliamentary Human Rights Committee, noted that Lithuanian seniors face discrimination in various areas. “In some institutions, they are subject to additional fees. There are specific stores where they cannot use discounts, and this is very negative. In my opinion, a significant portion of older adults with limited digital literacy skills are currently being discriminated against,” Šedvydis said.
He also pointed out that discrimination exists in public sector institutions, and Lithuania’s IT systems are not always tailored to people who lack strong digital skills.
Šedvydis announced that the Human Rights Committee plans to conduct parliamentary oversight on this issue next year, reviewing what progress has been made in the past year.
“A report on digital exclusion has been released, with recommendations for various ministries and institutions. After a year, we will assess what has been done, and we will push for further action,” he said.
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