Frankfurt supports seniors to combat digital exclusion

The increasing shift toward digital-only services is creating barriers for senior citizens in Germany. The Verbraucherzentrale Hessen warns that the move toward app-based medical appointments and digital-only services risks excluding millions of people, particularly the elderly, who may lack internet access or technical proficiency. The organization emphasizes the need to maintain analog options, such as telephone access, to ensure those most in need are not marginalized.

In response to these challenges, the city of Frankfurt am Main has launched a support program to promote digital participation. Eligible seniors aged 65 and older with low incomes can apply for a one-time 250-euro subsidy to purchase digital devices like laptops, tablets, or smartphones. This initiative, part of the DiTA project, also includes free training sessions to help participants use digital media safely and independently. The program is a collaboration between the Youth and Social Welfare Office and the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, with funding from the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space.