“I Wanted to Throw It All in the River” – Marion’s Journey to Digital Confidence in Her 80s

Marion, a widow in her 80s, arrived at our Smartlyte Digital Health Day carrying a laptop, a mobile phone, and an iPad — yet only the mobile had ever been used. In fact, her laptop had been gifted to her by her family over six months ago, still untouched in its packaging.

It is a scenario we see all too often: well-meaning families lovingly buying technology in the hope it will reduce loneliness, make healthcare more accessible, or make it easier to stay in touch. But what is often underestimated is the huge emotional and practical leap it takes for older adults to engage with that technology. Without the right support, those good intentions can end up adding to the stress.

That was Marion’s opening line — said with humour, but underpinned by real frustration. The digital world felt alien, confusing, and overwhelming. She lacked not just skills, but confidence. And she is not alone.

The Turning Point

At our Digital Health Day, Marion received intensive, personalised 1:1 support. Our team, which included colleagues from NHS England, took time — real time — to sit with her, guide her, and listen. We did not rush. We did not assume. We started where she was.

And step by step, something clicked.

Over the course of the session, Marion:

● Switched on her laptop for the first time.
● Created her own email address, giving her control and a voice online.
● Accessed and explored the NHS App — navigating it herself and even receiving a message from her GP.
● Learned how to confidently move between her phone, tablet and laptop — something that had previously felt impossible.

More Than Skills: A Shared Family Journey

What happened that day did not just impact Marion — it brought her family into the fold. What had once been a source of guilt and confusion (the unused laptop, the unread messages, the missed video calls) became a shared success story. Smartlyte’s approach did not just upskill Marion — it gave her family peace of mind. They saw her smile with pride. They saw her take charge. And they saw technology finally start to do what it was meant to: connect, empower, and support.

Why This Work Matters

Marion’s story is about more than devices or apps. It is about rebuilding confidence, reducing isolation, and giving people back their independence. But it is also a reminder: this level of support is resource-intensive. It does not happen in 15-minute slots. It happens through human connection, time, and care — the exact things that make our work so transformative.

Conclusion

Marion left not just with new skills, but with a renewed sense of control and possibility. She moved from someone who wanted to “throw it all in the river” to someone who said, “I’m very nervous, but I can do it now.”

And that is why we do what we do