Our society, our economy and our way of life today are very much shaped by digital technologies, which are rapidly spreading in all areas. In this digital world with its many services such as email services, social networks, news services, Internet telephony, video conferencing, music and video streaming, etc., many seniors feel excluded and overwhelmed and fear to lose their connection on these digital highways.

To counteract this, German Lions clubs developed a program even before the pandemic that provides older people, people with dementia and disabled people with easy access to the digital world. This initiative also helps people who have grown up with digital tools but are now overwhelmed due to their age. Under the name "We connect you," many people have already been taught how to use digital tools safely. The target group for this initiative is primarily seniors in assisted living facilities such as retirement homes.

For instructors, there is a manual with curricula and guidelines that enables rapid lesson preparation. A specially equipped and also inexpensive tablet, the Lions Comfort Tablet, convinces with very easy to learn operating steps. People without any previous knowledge succeed in exploring a new world on the screen thanks to an intuitive user interface adapted to their cognitive abilities, digitally keeping connections with friends and relatives.

The Lions Club Mameranus took up this initiative in 2022 and since then has been working hard to make it known and implemented in Luxembourg. In cooperation with different sponsors and especially with GERO, the "Competence Center for Old Age", the retirement home CIPA Gréngewald in Niederanven with its managing director Patrick Reding and his employees could be inspired for a first test run.

Due to the positive response, it was decided to start a pilot phase, in which 10 seniors and several caregivers will participate, at the beginning of July 2023. The Lions Club Mameranus and the Friends of the Senior Citizens Home, the "Amicale Routscheed Nidderaanven", shared the financing of the 10 tablets needed. By using a standardized tablet, the learning as well as support effort for caregivers can be kept low.

This pilot phase is scheduled for 6 months. A final evaluation in early 2024 will determine if more seniors from CIPA Gréngewald will participate in this program and if the initiative can be expanded to other senior homes. The tablets will always remain in the possession of the senior home and will be provided free of charge to interested residents of the home.

The Mameranus Lions Club believes that the "We Connect You" initiative, in conjunction with the Lions Comfort Tablet, will help people actively find ways out of loneliness and isolation. In addition, the initiative is also intended to show all fellow citizens ways out of digital illiteracy.