Silver surfers mark year online

Wednesday 18th April 2012

Web-savvy care home residents have been keeping in touch with loved ones online thanks to an internet cafe provided by a seafarers charity.

The Royal Alfred Seafarers' Society set up the internet cafe at Belvedere House care home in Surrey to allow residents to experience the web.

Since then the residents have been embracing the technology, using social media to catch up with friends, and playing online games to keep their minds active.

Now the charity is celebrating the first anniversary of its internet cafe, which has transformed the lives of the care home residents.

Eric Laurie, 91, whose daughter lives in Italy, uses Skype to stay in touch with his family, reads Italian and English newspapers and is now teaching other residents how to navigate the web.

Captain Roy Davis, 81, who served in the merchant navy for 45 years, uses the internet for shopping, banking and searching for information.

The anniversary coincides with Spring Online, a campaign by Digital Unite, which introduces older people to the web.

Commander Brian Boxall-Hunt OBE, chief executive of the Royal Alfred Seafarers' Society, said: "The internet and social media has exploded into our lives and there are so many advantages to the various platforms and programmes.

"It is a great way for our residents to stay in touch with relatives and friends who may live too far away to visit."

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