Barriers that Contribute to the Digital Divide Among Older Community Dwelling Adults in Later Life

Abstract Research demonstrates that race and health literacy contribute to the digital divide, which is a major public health concern for older adults in the U.S. However, we still lack information about what types of barriers older adults have through a comprehensive examination using population -based data. This study focuses specifically on barriers to technology use among older adults. We use data from the Health and Retirement study 2012 Module “Technology Use: Barriers and Benefits” (N = 1,416). About 42% of participatnts did not use any technology (e.g., emails, social media, smart phone) (n = 501). The mean age for this non-user group was 72 years old (SD 10.3). 13% were foreign born, over half were female (56%), and the majory were somewhat educated (72% with a high school education or lower). About 23% of non-users were self-reported black, 16% Hispanic, 3% other race, and 58% non-Hispanic white. Barriers for adopting the use of technology included too difficult to keep up with the changes in technology (78%), too complicated (69%), not interested (65%), too much time required to learn (53%), too hard to learn (52%), expensive (43%), not easily available (24%), and opposed to using new technologies (27%). Results suggest that barriers were significantly correlated with more depressive symptoms among older adults who did not use technology. Compared to users, non-users were also more likely to have health conditions (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, lung disease, stroke, and arthritis). Findings of this study provide directions to address digital divide among older adults.

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Older Adults—Potential Users of Technologies

Medicina ◽

10.3390/medicina55060253 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 55 (6) ◽

pp. 253 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Vita Lesauskaitė ◽

Gytė Damulevičienė ◽

Jurgita Knašienė ◽

Egidijus Kazanavičius ◽

Agnius Liutkevičius ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Technology Use ◽

Positive Attitude ◽

New Technologies ◽

Functional Independence ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

University Education ◽

The Internet ◽

Ageing In Place ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

Background and objective: The successful adoption of technology is becoming increasingly important to functional independence and successful ageing in place. A better understanding of technology usage amongst older people may help to direct future interventions aimed at improving their healthcare. We aimed to obtain the first data regarding technology use, including gerontechnologies, represented by fall detectors, from older adults in Lithuania. Material and methods: The research was carried out in the framework of the project Smart Gerontechnology for Healthy Ageing, which involved assessing the use of technologies and the readiness to use gerontechnologies, as represented by fall detectors. A total of 375 individuals that were more than 60 years of age were enrolled in the study. The self-reporting questionnaires were completed by geriatric in-patients, hospitalized in the geriatric department, and also by community-dwelling older adults. Results: Geriatric in-patients’ use of computers and the internet was associated with age (every year of age decreased the probability of computer and internet use by 0.9-times) and a positive attitude towards new technologies—this predictor increased the use of a computer by six-times in comparison with people who did not have such an attitude. Sex and education had no influence on computer use for geriatric in-patients. For community-dwelling older adults, the use of computers and internet was associated with age, education (a university education increased the use of computers and the internet by four times), and a positive attitude towards technologies. Conclusions: Lithuanian older women in the study used computers, the internet, and cell phones equally with men. Increasing age was a strong negative predictor of technology use. A positive attitude to new technologies was a strong positive predictor of technology use. Most geriatric patients and community-dwelling older adults were ready to use technologies that permit ageing in place.

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Predicting Technology Use Among Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic With Community Participation

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.2164 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 567-567

Author(s):

Brittany Drazich ◽

Laura Samuel ◽

Thomas Cudjoe ◽

Melissa Hladek ◽

Sarah Szanton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Community Participation ◽

Technology Use ◽

Chronic Conditions ◽

New Technologies ◽

Social Activity ◽

Well Being ◽

Study Data ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract Technology use is important for older adults, particularly in the pandemic. The pattern of technology use among older adults varies significantly. We hypothesized that limitations of activities of daily living (ADL), wellbeing, and community participation of community-dwelling older adults before the pandemic would predict technology use during the pandemic. National Health and Aging Trends Study data on 2924 older adults were utilized. Adjusted for age, gender, race, education, marital status, and chronic conditions, previous well-being predicted more online social activities (OR=1.03, p =.03); previous ADL limitations predicted more telehealth use (OR=1.11, p=.014); and previous community participation predicted: learning new technologies (OR=1.46, p <.001), more telecommunication (OR=1.12, p=.007), more online social activity (OR=1.58, p<.001), and more telehealth use (OR=1.09, p= .04). The results of this study imply that high community participation promotes older adults’ transition to technology use. Older adults with low participation may need extra attention for such a transition.

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Intergenerational connections through technology: Insights from the Technology Use in Later Life multi-site study

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.3405 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 928-929

Author(s):

Shannon Freeman ◽

Hannah R Marston ◽

Charles Musselwhite ◽

Janna Olynick ◽

Rebecca Genoe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Networking Sites ◽

Technology Use ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

New Technologies ◽

Intergenerational Relationships ◽

Later Life ◽

Social Distancing ◽

Rural And Urban ◽

Intergenerational Connections

Abstract With enhanced challenges to maintain social connections especially during times of social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for technology solutions grow. Technologies have become interwoven into the daily lives for many older adults. The Technology Use in Later Life (TILL) study investigated how the perceptions and use of technology both can foster new and leverage existing intergenerational relationships. Through a mixed methods study engaging older adults aged 70 years of age and greater across rural and urban sites in Canada and the UK (N=37), participants described how the interconnection between technology and intergenerational relationships was an integral component to social connectedness with others. Through a qualitative descriptive approach, it was noted that older adults leveraged intergenerational relationships with family and friends to adjust to new technologies and to remain connected to adult children and grandchildren especially when there is high geographic separation between them. Especially during times of COVID-19, younger family members can play an important role to introduce and teach older adults how to use, technologies such as digital devices, computers, and social networking sites. Participants emphasized the benefits of intergenerational connections to adopt and use technology in later life noting flexibility and willingness to overcome barriers to technology adoption and remain connected across the generations. The adoption and uptake of technologies may continue as viable options during times of social distancing to support older persons to remain independent, age in place, in both age-friendly cities and across rural geographies during and post COVID-19.

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Old and afraid of new communication technologies? Reconceptualising and contesting the ‘age-based digital divide’

Journal of Sociology ◽

10.1177/1440783318766119 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 54 (2) ◽

pp. 236-248 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Barbara Barbosa Neves ◽

Jenny Waycott ◽

Sue Malta

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Technology Adoption ◽

Digital Divide ◽

Technology Use ◽

Mixed Methods Research ◽

Public Discourse ◽

Structuration Theory ◽

Communication Technologies ◽

Later Life ◽

Cultural Perspective

Despite sociological attempts to critically address an age-based digital divide, older adults (65+) continue to be portrayed in the academic literature and public discourse as a homogeneous group characterised by technophobia, digital illiteracy, and technology non-use. Additionally, the role of socioeconomic factors and personal contexts in later life are often overlooked in studies on technology adoption and use. For example, older adults who are identified as least likely to use technology (frail, care-dependent, low socioeconomic/educational backgrounds) are typically described as a uniform cluster. Yet, research on digital technology use with this group remains scant – so what can we learn from studying technology adoption among them? This article discusses long-term deployment of new communication technologies with such a group of older adults, shedding light on the dynamics of technology adoption and contexts of use/non-use. It is based on a case study approach and a cross-cultural perspective, using Canadian and Australian mixed-methods research from two projects that included interviews, psychometric scales, and field observations. We present cases from these projects and contest the simplistic notion of an age-based digital divide, by drawing on Strong Structuration Theory to explore the interconnection of agency, structure, and context in the sociotechnical process of technology adoption and use/non-use among older adults.

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The Association Between the Use of Digital Health Management Tools and Subjective Well-Being Among Older Adults

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.1914 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 498-498

Author(s):

Mai See Yang ◽

Haowei Wang ◽

Yong Kyung Choi

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Technology Use ◽

Health Management ◽

Digital Health ◽

Later Life ◽

Well Being ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Management Tools

Abstract This study aims to examine the association between the use of digital health management tools and subjective well-being in later life. Research is limited about technology use (e.g., participation in online wellness program, finding medical information, using devices to monitor health) among community dwelling older adults. This study used data from the Health and Retirement study 2012 Module “Technology Use: Barriers and Benefits” (N = 1,416). We used multiple regression methods to test the association between technology use and subjective well-being (i.e., self-rated health, life satisfaction, and depressive symptoms). Over half of the participants reported using technology (58%). The mean age for this group was 68.7 (SD 9.6). Majority of the respondents were female (55%). About 18% were non-Hispanic Blacks, 2% were non-Hispanic other, 11% were Hispanic, and 68% were non-Hispanic Whites. For this sample of technology users, the usage of digital health management included online exercise programs (16%), online wellness programs or health monitoring programs (7%), searching for medical and health information online (43%), digital devices to monitor health (31%), and physical activity-based video game such as Wii Fit (7%). Over 88% of the sample have used at least one of these formats to monitor their health. Results from regression models suggested that the use of any digital health management tools was related to fewer depressive symptoms and better self-reported health. Findings from this study provide insight into how digital health management can protect older adults from poor subjective well-being in later life.

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I Would be More at a Loss Without It: Technology as a Tool for Resilience for Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.839 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 219-219

Author(s):

Rebecca Newmark ◽

Theresa Allison ◽

Alexander Smith ◽

Carla Perissinotto ◽

Ashwin Kotwal

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

San Francisco ◽

Technology Use ◽

New Technologies ◽

New Technology ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Community Resources ◽

Software Updates ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract COVID-19 associated shelter-in-place orders led to concerns about worsening social isolation and inadequate access to technology among older adults, yet little is known about technology use in this population during the pandemic. We examined older adults’ experiences with technology during shelter-in-place in order to identify lessons learned for a post-pandemic world. We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of 20 community-dwelling older adults in San Francisco. Two independent coders conducted concurrent data analysis using inductive and deductive approaches to identify salient themes. Participants were 78 years on average (range 64-99), 55% female, 25% Black, 75% lived alone, and 60% reported at least one ADL impairment. Technology emerged as core aspect of resilience, indicating whether older adults could navigate pandemic restrictions, with two primary themes identified. First, many participants reported discovery of new technologies to maintain or develop new connections, including Zoom-based community groups and telehealth services (“there’s all kinds of virtual programs where you can exercise”). Second, older adults were resourceful in identifying community resources and enlisting family members to learn (“I had to ask one of my granddaughters how to make the chat thing work”). Despite difficulty navigating passwords, software updates and other common obstacles, most participants expressed gratitude for technology and the connectivity made possible. Many indicated an intention to integrate new technology-based social interactions into everyday life even after restrictions ended. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the role technology can play in fostering resilience among older adults in adapting to external stressors.

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Intergenerational Effects on the Impacts of Technology Use in Later Life: Insights from an International, Multi-Site Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17165711 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (16) ◽

pp. 5711 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Shannon Freeman ◽

Hannah R. Marston ◽

Janna Olynick ◽

Charles Musselwhite ◽

Cory Kulczycki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Networking Sites ◽

Technology Use ◽

Older Persons ◽

Online Survey ◽

New Technologies ◽

Intergenerational Relationships ◽

Later Life ◽

Intergenerational Support ◽

Use Of Technology

As the use of technology becomes further integrated into the daily lives of all persons, including older adults, it is important to investigate how the perceptions and use of technology intersect with intergenerational relationships. Based on the international multi-centered study Technology In Later Life (TILL), this paper emphasizes the perceptions of older adults and the interconnection between technology and intergenerational relationships are integral to social connectedness with others. Participants from rural and urban sites in Canada and the UK (n = 37) completed an online survey and attended a focus group. Descriptive and thematic analyses suggest that older adults are not technologically adverse and leverage intergenerational relationships with family and friends to adjust to new technologies and to remain connected to adult children and grandchildren, especially when there is high geographic separation between them. Participants referenced younger family members as having introduced them to, and having taught them how to use, technologies such as digital devices, computers, and social networking sites. The intergenerational support in the adoption of new technologies has important implications for helping older persons to remain independent and to age in place, in both age-friendly cities and in rural communities. The findings contribute to the growing literature in the fields of gerontology and gerontechnology on intergenerational influences and the impacts of technology use in later life and suggest the flexibility and willingness of older persons to adopt to new technologies as well as the value of intergenerational relationships for overcoming barriers to technology adoption.

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DECONSTRUCTING THE MODEL-MINORITY MYTH OF U.S. ASIANS: DETERMINANTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF ELDER MISTREATMENT

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.2792 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S760-S760

Author(s):

XinQi Dong ◽

Melissa Simon

Keyword(s):

Family Relationships ◽

Model Minority ◽

Population Based ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Health Concern ◽

Community Research ◽

Minority Population ◽

Model Minority Myth ◽

Elder Mistreatment ◽

Population Based Study

Abstract Elder mistreatment (EM) is increasingly recognized as a global health concern. Among U.S. minority and immigrant populations, the social contexts and psychological consequences associated with EM remain poorly understood. Further population-based epidemiological studies using standard EM measures are required to advance the field. To address this gap and to challenge prior assumptions regarding Asian populations, this purpose of this symposium is to improve our understanding of EM epidemiology in an older minority population. Data were drawn from the Population-based Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (PINE), a longitudinal, representative, population-based study of 3,157 community-dwelling Chinese older adults in the greater Chicago area. Session 1 will examine the transmission between child mistreatment, intimate partner violence, and EM. Session 2 will take a typology approach to capture the multifaceted family relationships, and will further examine which family typologies were associated with greater likelihood of EM, while which typologies were protective against EM. Session 3 will explore the positive and negative aspects of social support from spouse, family, and friends in relationship to EM subtypes, including psychological, physical, financial and sexual mistreatment, and caregiver neglect. Session 4 will examine the relationship between broad, moderate, and strict definitions of EM and likelihood of experiencing anxiety. Last, Session 5 will explore the differential relationships between EM subtypes and depressive symptoms. In summation, this symposium challenges popular conceptions of the “model minority myth” and aims to increase the practical and clinical relevance of EM epidemiology in community, research, healthcare, and policy settings.

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Using Everyday Technology Independently When Living with Forgetfulness: Experiences of Older Adults in Barcelona

Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine ◽

10.1177/2333721421993754 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. 233372142199375

Author(s):

Samuel Briones ◽

Louise Meijering

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Qualitative Methodology ◽

Local Community ◽

Phenomenological Study ◽

Later Life ◽

Learning Opportunities ◽

Individual Characteristics ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Community Dwelling Older Adults ◽

The Capability Approach

Older adults living with forgetfulness encounter difficulties when engaging with changing and dynamic everyday technology (ET). The capability to use ET is important for independence in later life and is affected by the contextual and individual characteristics of older adults. Using the capability approach as a theoretical lens, this phenomenological study aims to explore the experiences of older adults living with forgetfulness, in order to identify contextual and individual factors that facilitate the use of ET in everyday life. A qualitative methodology was used to interview 16 community-dwelling older adults participating in memory and technology workshops at local community centres in Barcelona. Findings show that motivation and openness to learning played a facilitating role in our participants’ use of ET. The presence of social support in the form of “technology experts” and community centres offering learning opportunities were also enhancing factors that encourage independence when engaging with ET. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the importance of expanding intergenerational ET learning opportunities, through the creation of age-friendly spaces.

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