Brighton's elderly may look at 'inappropriate material' if given free WiFi

Brighton Council is looking at installing WiFi into the communal areas of its sheltered housing schemes, but has expressed fears over elderly people “accessing illegal or inappropriate material”.

The issue came up at a housing committee meeting at Hove Town hall, when the council was asked whether it will be providing WiFi access in the communal lounges of its sheltered housing schemes.

Brighton and Hove City Council lead for housing, Councillor Anne Meadows revealed that the council was working with volunteers on boosting the elderly’s ICT skills. However she said there were some problems over installing WiFi across its extra care schemes.

The Brighton Argus reported that she had concerns over “some particular challenges on security, and the council’s liability, when providing access in a communal setting - not least in terms of people accessing illegal or inappropriate material”.

The council’s digital team is currently exploring the proposal.

A spokesman for Brighton Council told carehome.co.uk: “We’re committed to supporting digital inclusion initiatives and are looking at the possibility of introducing WiFi in communal areas of our seniors housing schemes. It is very early days and, along with cost, potential usage and security of the service are factors we need to consider in line with our legal liabilities.”

The lack of WiFi access in many care homes and extra care housing has been raised by carehome.co.uk in the past. Currently, residents in just over a third of care homes and sheltered housing schemes have some form of internet access, according to the leading care home reviews website.

Davina Ludlow, chair of carehome.co.uk, said: “It would be good to see more care homes giving residents access to the internet.

“The internet can be crucial in giving older people and people with disabilities back their independence and stop them feeling so isolated as they can shop online, order books and DVDs over the internet and chat to family and friends on Skype and look at photos on Facebook.”