Age UK Covid Challenges & Opportunities

Challenges and Opportunities Facing Age UK during Covid-19 Pandemic

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Age UKÂ is facing a number of challenges delivering many of its services and acknowledge that there is a need for transformation of some of these services to a digital delivery format.

For Formative Assessment 2Â you will need to provide an outline of the reportÂ structureÂ giving a good indication of what you are going to discuss in each section, including the academic sources you have used

Background:

Age UK are an independent charity that supports the health and wellbeing of older people living in the city. They offer localised services within their local branch.

The Covid-19 pandemic has further socially isolated the older generation and has had a devastating impact on their health and well-being. With many of their services suspended due to the pandemic, Age UK is facing many challenges providing their services and engaging with older people.

Challenges facing Age UK:

An understanding of the most effective digital mediumto reach their target audience, e.g. Email, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Zoom.
Identification of which local services may be most suitable, in whole or in part, for transformation to a digital delivery and solutions to achieve this.
Promoting and encouraging engagement with digital services by overcoming the barriersof skills, access and motivation

Barriers	Â
Skills	Digital skills and understanding
Access (to IT)	Lack of access to a digital device, internet connection or internet signal, e.g. due to lack of funds or physical/mental impairment
Motivation	Understand WHY and HOW they can benefit from being online for a purpose they can relate to, not just for the sake of being online, and overcome fear and mistrust.

Types of Local Services they offer Â	About the service	How delivered	Delivery during Covid	Barriers	How could it be developed to assist?
Information and Advice	Service to provide information and advice about a wide range of topics	Face to Face, Over the phone, Email	Telephone, Email	Access to IT, competencies/ skills, motivation	Access to IT, Completing forms online
Visiting Service	Weekly visits by Volunteers to clientsâ€™ home to combat loneliness and isolation	Face to Face	Wellbeing telephone calls to support clients	Access to IT, competencies/ skills, motivation	Access and training e.g., WhatsApp, Zoom, Facebook, connecting with activities and vetted non-AUKS groups
Computer Drop-In sessions	Weekly Drop-in sessions for support and guidance on IT issues e.g. How to use a tablet, How can I access photos?	Weekly support groups in community venue - face to face	None	Access to IT, competencies/ skills, motivation	Access and training e.g., WhatsApp, Zoom, webinars, tutorials
Wellbeing service	Holistic needs analysis, referrals, signposting	Face to Face, Telephone	Telephone	Access to IT, competencies/ skills, motivation	Access and training e.g., WhatsApp, Zoom, Facebook, how to access websites, connecting with activities and vetted non-AUKS groups
Day care	1-3 days per week in day-care centre; activities for mental and physical stimulation; hot meal; day trips. Support for toileting and feeding.	Face to Face	Telephone wellbeing calls, limited home visits using full PPE	Access to IT, competencies/ skills, motivation, frailty, cognitive and sensory impairment	Access and training e.g., WhatsApp, Zoom, Facebook,
Chums	Regular social gathering, coffee morning style, knitting club	Face to Face	Telephone?	Access to IT, competencies/ skills, motivation	Access and training e.g., WhatsApp, Zoom, Facebook, how to access websites, connecting with activities and vetted non-AUKS groups
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES	Access to online shopping	Â	Â	Â	Â
	Access to GP consultations/ Hospital appointments	Â	Â	Â	Â
	On line prescriptions	Â	Â	Â	Â
	Connection with friends & family	Â	Â	Â	Â

Requirements:

Undertake relevant secondary researchwhich should include (but is not limited to)

1. Age UK structure, company culture, mission/aims, competitors, products/services and organisational strategy.
2. A review of most popular digital mediums and/or social media platforms amongst older adults
3. The barriers that Age UK face in getting their clients to access digital services in the 3 key areas of skills, access and motivation

Students should develop their critical thinkingskills as they use the results of their research to identify which of the Age UK local services may be most suitable, in whole or in part, for transformation to a digital delivery and solutions to achieve this that are well-founded and evidenced Students should apply their own reasoning and judgmentas they draw conclusions as to the merits and limitations of the ideas they have generated and the extent to which they could overcome the barriers of skills, access and motivation to encourage older adults to engage with digital services offered by Age UK.

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