PPA expert: why is document processing difficult for elderly people?

Police and Border Guard Board expert Annika Pärna explains why elderly people often find document processing challenging. Problems range from fingerprint scanning to long journeys to service offices.

For elderly people, applying for a new identity document can be a real ordeal – fingerprints may fail to scan, travelling between service offices takes hours, and family members try to figure out how to make the process easier. Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) identification and status bureau senior expert Annika Pärna explains why this happens and what to do in such situations.

The fingerprint problem

One of the most common difficulties elderly people face when processing documents is unreadable fingerprints. As people age, the skin becomes thinner and more wrinkled, which means fingerprint scanning may not succeed on the first – or even the second – attempt. This extends the procedure and creates stress for both the applicant and their loved ones.

According to PPA experts, various methods have been developed to solve this problem and service staff have been trained to work with elderly clients. If necessary, alternative methods are used and there is no rush with the procedure.

Mobility difficulties and distances

Another important problem is physical access to service points. Many elderly people live in areas where the nearest PPA service office is far away, and they lack the ability to travel there independently. Help from relatives is often necessary, but this also requires finding a time that suits everyone.

Annika Pärna recommends that in such cases, people inquire whether it is possible to use a home visit service or other flexible solutions. It is also advisable to start early – waiting until the last minute makes the situation more difficult for everyone.