数字包容视域下老年数字素养教育的供需错配

通过梳理数字鸿沟、城市老年群体数字融入影响因素及对策的研究内容，采用半结构化访谈法与扎根理论识别 27 个初始概念和 15个子范畴发现，我国城市老年群体数字融入障碍体现在个人层、家庭层、社区层、社会层、信息层及技术层 6个维度。基于此，城市老年群体数字融入障碍的多元主体协同解决路径为构建系统性外部支持联动机制（个人层），重构制度化数字反哺模式（家庭层），构建精准化能力进阶培育体系（社区层），完善制度与服务保障（社会层），构建安全可信的信息环境（信息层）以及深化适老创新与场景适配（技术层）。

近年随着我国老龄化程度不断加深，老年教育需求日益增大，老年教育供需矛盾较为突出，实现老年教育的数字化转型以增加老年教育供给的数量、提高老年教育供给的质量是解决这一问题的重要举措。本文结合案例分析法对政府-机构-社区三者共建的老年教育多元主体协同服务机制进行了探讨，利用已有的研究成果对云端老年大学的老年教育系统进行深入分析，在发现云端老年大学整合线上线下、资源整合普惠化、设计老龄化三个特点的基础上，为破解老龄教育资源供给失衡、数字鸿沟难以跨越、老年人参与度低等问题提供具体的解决之道。

在智能技术迅猛发展的时代背景下，数字适老化成为积极应对人口老龄化挑战的重要路径。以AI技术为代表的智能鸿沟的形成，不仅缘于老年人个体层面的数字能力不足，更深植于认知门槛、环境配置、交互界面与算法机制等层面的现实障碍。为此，应从重建数字信任的认知适老化、健全基础设施的环境适老化、优化人机互动的交互适老化和提升算法协商的算法适老化这四个维度来增强老年人的数字融入与福祉。并且，应从“得与失”“公与私”“老与少”“断与连”等张力中辨析数字适老化的成本逻辑、权责边界、代际关系与价值向度，揭示其在制度、技术与伦理层面所面临的限度与局限。推动数字适老化转型，需要坚持分级治理、协同共建与自由尊重原则，统筹资源配置与多元参与，构建有温度、有节制、有选择的全龄友好型智能社会。

The current sanitary crisis due to COVID-19 has further evidenced the enormous digital exclusion of older adults. Furthermore, the crisis has urged older adults to adopt new technologies to facilitate their tasks, as well as to provide them with an effective means against loneliness and social isolation caused by the confinement. In light of this, Digital Literacy is necessary for all those excluded from the digital era, who are characterized mainly by little or no ability to effectively use technologies. Nevertheless, detailed studies showing the leap from mixed (Blended Learning, BL) to digital literacy in the elderly have not been published. The objective of the present research was to analyze the level of Digital Literacy with the Digital Literacy Evaluation (DILE) of two groups of elderly adults with different levels of literacy (Group 1: G1, and Group 2: G2) during three stages: BL (Aug–Dec 2019); Transition (Feb–Jun 2020); and Digital (Aug–Dec 2020). Comparisons were made before each educational level (pre-pre-pre) and after each educational level (post-post-post) and during consecutive periods before and after each semester (pre vs post) and throughout different educational levels (G1: Basic 1, B1; Basic 2, B2; and intermediate 1, I1; and G2: Intermediate 1 to 3, I1, I2, and I3). Subsequently, considering all the elderly who had passed at least one of the literacy levels, we worked with a total sample of 176 older adults. The comparisons showed that, before the pandemic, G1’s pre digital literacy levels increased between B1 and B2 and that the differences continued with that increasing trend between the B1 level and the I1 completely digital treatment, and the same was observed for post measurements. On the other hand, for the G2, the differences in the DILE were statistically significant between the pre-condition of I2 (before the pandemic) and the I3 (completely digital treatment); and between the pre-conditions of I1 and I3; the same results were obtained for post treatments. Also, pre vs post scores on the DILE were statistically significant and older adults increased progressively their digital literacy despite the COVID-19 pandemic and jumped to the digital age.

Due to the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, more older people are exposed to Information Technology(IT) in their daily lives. However, due to the lack of digital literacy capabilities of the elderly, it is difficult to use digital devices, making it difficult to live. Therefore, this paper outlined the impact of the digital divide on daily life and the ability of the elderly to use digital information. Through this, we propose an educational program that combines IT and humanities to improve digital literacy in the elderly. IT and humanities do not seem to match, but the convergence of the two is essential. Hardware and software, technology and technology, technology and design are being combined. Accordingly, technology and humanities can combine competency is becoming more critical. Therefore, the educational program proposed in this thesis combines a decision tree with a game and allows the elderly to acquire IT knowledge while playing a game naturally. This educational program was conducted for 23 older adults in their 60s in J city, South Korea. The average satisfaction of the study participants in education was 4.13(±0.65). In addition, the post-test mean of the recognition area in digital literacy was 3.02(±0.64) (p<.05), and the post-test mean of the behavior area in digital literacy was 3.67(±0.59) (p<.01), which was statistically significant compared to the pre-test.

Under the background of digital economy, increasing awareness of active ageing through digital literacy is a realistic requirement to deal with deep aging. However, the lack of digital literacy and skills of the elderly seriously affects the ways and means of their participation in the digital society, and then produces negative aging attitudes such as loneliness, isolation and uselessness. We adopt stratified sampling to conduct a comprehensive social survey on the elderly care status of the elderly in six provinces including Henan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Gansu, Jiangsu and Shandong in July 2023, and use Ordinal Logistic Regression method to analysis the impact of digital literacy on aging attitudes. The study finds that the improvement of digital literacy can significantly inhibit the aging attitude of the elderly. Further, mechanism analysis finds that the improvement of digital literacy has empowerment effect and energizing effect. In addition, compared with the urban, high-income and low-age elderly groups, the aging attitudes of rural, low-income and high-age elderly groups are relatively less dependent on digital literacy. The improvement of digital literacy can significantly inhibit the aging attitude of the elderly, so the government should optimize the balance and accessibility of digital resources and eliminate digital inequality among the elderly.

… elderly showed interest in further education in other areas of ICT. The lowest number of elderly expressed interest in further education … elderly would have a higher level of digital literacy …

the rights to life and health are basic human rights but, as life spans increase and societies age, these rights become increasingly difficult to secure. the number of people needing care, nursing, and medical treatment increases – and their expectations of quality of life rise – faster than the available financial assets and workforce. the article aims at defining the influence of digital literacy of patients and digital-based medical services availability on perspectives of fulfilling health-related needs specific for ageing societies. a variety of information and communication technologies (iCt) solutions can deliver at least temporary relief to countries suffering from these problems, assuming that the potential beneficiaries are able and willing to use such methods. it is thus worthwhile to foster digital literacy, especially among middle-aged and older people. iCt-based solutions include a variety of more or less technologically advanced, sophisticated, and easy-to-use services, many of which have been in operation and common use for decades, and are thus ripe for medical application. Such technologies can create a highly complex system of interconnected electronic tools and information systems operating on sensitive medical data that must remain confidential. these systems aim to increase patients’ medical safety and maximize their quality of life, but they also pose serious threats to their privacy. Confidential data are protected by legal regulations, including the recently introduced european General Data protection Regulation (GDpR), but primary care physicians should not be discouraged by this from implementing iCt-based solutions into their practices, as they may significantly lessen their everyday workload.

… digital literacy, the direction and theoretical mechanism of the effect of basic and advanced digital literacy on the sense of access of the rural elderly … 2018 China Elderly Social Tracking …

… However, for elderly users whose learning has traditionally … Moreover, elderly people living in rural communities face a … navigation as a digital literacy method for the elderly in rural areas…

Background Numerous instruments are designed to measure digital literacy among the general population. However, few studies have assessed the use and appropriateness of these measurements for older populations. Objective This systematic review aims to identify and critically appraise studies assessing digital literacy among older adults and to evaluate how digital literacy instruments used in existing studies address the elements of age-appropriate digital literacy using the European Commission’s Digital Competence (DigComp) Framework. Methods Electronic databases were searched for studies using validated instruments to assess digital literacy among older adults. The quality of all included studies was evaluated using the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool (CCAT). Instruments were assessed according to their ability to incorporate the competence areas of digital literacy as defined by the DigComp Framework: (1) information and data literacy, (2) communication and collaboration, (3) digital content creation, (4) safety, and (5) problem-solving ability, or attitudes toward information and communication technology use. Results Searches yielded 1561 studies, of which 27 studies (17 cross-sectional, 2 before and after, 2 randomized controlled trials, 1 longitudinal, and 1 mixed methods) were included in the final analysis. Studies were conducted in the United States (18/27), Germany (3/27), China (1/27), Italy (1/27), Sweden (1/27), Canada (1/27), Iran (1/27), and Bangladesh (1/27). Studies mostly defined older adults as aged ≥50 years (10/27) or ≥60 years (8/27). Overall, the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) was the most frequently used instrument measuring digital literacy among older adults (16/27, 59%). Scores on the CCAT ranged from 34 (34/40, 85%) to 40 (40/40, 100%). Most instruments measured 1 or 2 of the DigComp Framework’s elements, but the Mobile Device Proficiency Questionnaire (MDPQ) measured all 5 elements, including “digital content creation” and “safety.” Conclusions The current digital literacy assessment instruments targeting older adults have both strengths and weaknesses, relative to their study design, administration method, and ease of use. Certain instrument modalities like the MDPQ are more generalizable and inclusive and thus, favorable for measuring the digital literacy of older adults. More studies focusing on the suitability of such instruments for older populations are warranted, especially for areas like “digital content creation” and “safety” that currently lack assessment. Evidence-based discussions regarding the implications of digitalization for the treatment of older adults and how health care professionals may benefit from this phenomenon are encouraged.

Objective Despite previous research identifying factors such as age, education level, income, and interest in technology that influence digital literacy among the elderly, this study attempts to use machine learning algorithms, especially ensemble learning algorithms, to predict and identify the key factors that affect the digital information literacy of the elderly, so as to propose effective strategies to improve the elderly's ability to utilize digital information and better integrate into the digital society. Methods This study used primary data on older adults from the Digital Divide Survey 2022 conducted by the Korea National Information Society Agency. A predictive model was built, and 15 variables that were highly important in predicting digital information literacy were identified. Prediction accuracy was assessed using an ensemble of algorithms including Random Forest, LGBM, XGBoost, AdaBoost, and CatBoost. Results The study found that in addition to demographic factors and personal technology use ability factors, relationship support factors and social digital environment factors are also important predictors of digital information literacy for the elderly. Among different predictive models, the CatBoost model, based on boosting ensemble, exhibited the highest predictive accuracy at 86.2%, followed by Random Forest (85.5%), LGBM (85.2%), XGBoost (84.5%), and AdaBoost (83.8%). The predictive accuracies of these models were higher than those of traditional machine learning models, indicating the effectiveness of ensemble learning algorithms in predicting digital information literacy among the elderly. Conclusions The academic significance of this study lies in the application of artificial intelligence technologies to the social sciences, specifically demonstrating the effectiveness of ensemble learning algorithms in predicting factors influencing the digital literacy levels of the elderly. This approach provides a novel and powerful tool for addressing complex social issues. The practical significance lies in the proposed strategies for improving the digital literacy of the elderly based on the research results, including education and training, social relationship support, social participation, technical support, and policy formulation, aiming to help the elderly better adapt to the digital environment, narrow the digital divide, and enhance the elderly's sense of participation and happiness in the digital society.

This paper aimed to examine the effectiveness of social platform promotion strategies for the elderly with different digital literacy. Despite extensive research on the development of youth-oriented social platforms, research on the development of social platforms specifically targeting older adults with varying levels of digital literacy is lacking. The elderly population is divided into passive information receivers (PIRs) and active information seekers (AISs) according to their information seeking expertise, and an empirical study was conducted to assess the behavioral characteristics of PIRs and AISs. Grounded in innovation diffusion research and our empirical results, an agent-based model was developed, and the impact of the proportion of PIRs on the macro result of the social platform adoption (i.e., market penetration) and the impact of promotional strategies on market penetration under different proportions of PIRs were analyzed. The results demonstrate a direct negative effect of the proportion of PIRs on market penetration and a moderating effect on the effectiveness of various promotional strategies.

Social distancing and the expansion of the digital environment due to the impact of COVID-19 are raising the need for digital literacy among the elderly for overall social participation such as mutual communication, health care, and education. The purpose of this study was to identify the correlation between digital literacy, loneliness, quality of life, and health promotion behaviors among the elderly aged between 65 and over and under 75 years. The data collection for this study was from May 1 to June 1, 2021, after approval from the C University Bioethics Review Committee using online questionnaires for 159 young-old elderly living in Korea. This study was a descriptive correlation study to understand the relationship between these variables for the young-old elderly. The collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS WIN/25.0. The general characteristics were frequency, mean, and standard deviation, the difference of variables according to the general characteristics was analyzed by t-test and one-way ANOVA, and post-analysis was analyzed by Scheffe's test. The correlation between each variable was analyzed using Pearson's correlation. The subjects' digital media literacy was positively correlated with quality of life and health promotion behavior. Loneliness was inversely correlated with quality of life and health-promoting behavior. Quality of life was positively correlated with health-promoting behavior. Based on the results of this study, it is suggested that digital literacy education programs for the elderly in the future are necessary to reduce the elderly's feeling of loneliness and improve the quality of life and health promotion behaviors.

جلاتتعل سيتتل، ضيرتتملل تاتتمولعملا ريفوتتت للاتتخ نتتم دعاتتست نأ نتتكمي ةتتيئاقولا ةتتيبطلا ةتتياعرلاو. ةتتيبطلا اتًضيأ اتهنم ةتياقولل لتب بتسحف ضارتملأا. …‎

In South Korea, digital literacy education programs are expected to help its older population participate in online welfare services to increase their social support, self-esteem and well-being. This quasi-experimental study assesses the effects of digital literacy education on digital device usage among rural-dwelling adults aged 65 and above and evaluates the positive effects of digital literacy education on depression, happiness, quality of life, self-efficacy and cognitive function. A digital literacy education program and a customized questionnaire survey were conducted to evaluate smartphone use competency and the program’s effects, respectively. We also conducted a chi-square test, paired t-test and difference-in-differences regression analysis. The experimental group showed a significant increase in smartphone usage and video recording capacity than the control group. The happiness and cognitive function scores for dementia screening increased significantly by a mean of 3.7 and 1.1 points, respectively, after digital literacy education. Cognitive function increased significantly by 1.305 points in the experimental group compared to the control group (β = 1.305, p = 0.05 *). Digital literacy education for older adults in rural areas greatly increased smartphone use, video recording capacity, happiness and cognitive function. Based on these findings, it is recommended that the government should implement digital literacy education for older adults in rural areas to increase their happiness and cognitive function.

ABSTRACT More and more countries have become greying societies along with the burgeoning of digital devices. The older generation suffers from a sharp digital divide. Although the information infrastructure is fully developed, the elderly, not having grown up with it, tend to lack digital literacy and hold less intention to learn to use digital technologies. In the past, it was cable TV which pervaded the market and because of its long history of development became indispensable in the lives of the elderly. Recently, the maturity of Smart TV, provides us with an appropriate digital learning tool to assist seniors in Taiwan to improve their digital literacy. This is done utilising a digital remote control, designed to be a mixture of new and old technologies that offers seniors a high degree of familiarity. The study explore the effects of technology anxiety, digital feedback, and familiar technological skills on the adoption of digital devices by the elderly. In addition, a learning strategy compatible with the existing living environment of the elderly is proposed. The findings and recommendations for an effective approach to this problem are discussed as well as limitations and future research directions.

Purpose This research exclusively focuses on China’s elderly Internet users given how severe a threat disinformation has become for this particular population group as social media platforms thrive and the number of elderly netizens grows in China. The purpose of this study is to explore the mechanism of how elderly social media users’ intention to identify false information is influenced helps supplement the knowledge system of false information governance and provides a basis for correction practices. Design/methodology/approach This study focuses on the digital literacy of elderly social media users and builds a theoretical model of their intention to identify false information based on the theory of planned behaviour. It introduces two variables – namely, risk perception and self-efficacy – and clarifies the relationships between the variables. Questionnaires were distributed both online and offline, with a total of 468 collected. A structural equation model was built for empirical analysis. Findings The results show that digital literacy positively influences risk perception, self-efficacy, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control. Risk perception positively influences subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and the attitude towards the identification of false information. Self-efficacy positively influences perceived behavioural control but does not significantly impact the intention to identify. Subjective norms positively influence the attitude towards identification and the intention to identify. Perceived behavioural control positively influences the attitude towards identification but does not significantly impact the intention to identify. The attitude towards identification positively influences the intention to identify. Originality/value Based on relevant theories and the results of the empirical analysis, this study provides suggestions for false information governance from the perspectives of social media platform collaboration and elderly social media users.

According to the Digital Agenda for Europe (2014 - 2020) enhancing digital literacy, skills and inclusion is one of the main priorities. All European elderly people must become e-seniors as soon as possible. On the hand, active ageing means that senior citizens activate themselves in order to be as independent as possible. As a result, triggering these new digital tools and ICT skills can assist the elderly to be a more integrated part of our society. The Erasmus+ Proadas project promotion of Active Digital Ageing Skills aims at tackling the gap between ageing population and digital literacy and strengthening and reinforcing the stakeholders, experts and practitioners, by identifying the needs of elderly people and their carers regarding technology. The study was conducted in January 2019 in all six countries participating in the Proadas project. 35 carers and their assigned seniors were selected via convenience sampling by a minimum of three best practices- centres of excellence per country. A twelve-question close format questionnaire was developed, using a Delphi approach and completed by all participants. All data was analysed using SPPS 20. A total of 188 responders from all six countries agreed to participate response rate 89.5% of which 51.5% women. Age varied significantly between 20-75 years. Regarding existing ICT skills participants in all countries were familiar with basic use of computer and internet but very few used advance services. There was unanimous agreement that learning is facilitatedwith the help of family or friends. A combination of traditional and digital learning format was deemed most appropriate. The main obstacles involved lack of trainers, motivation and suitable educators. There is latent need for the integration of ICT in elderly care. The development of suitable learning material and the involvement of motivated carers are key strategies for the successful implementation of such a reform. ICT is insufficiently used for elderly health education. Digital health can be beneficial for the elderly and their carers.

Digital transformation or mediatization (Hjavard, 2013), and demographic change are two metaprocesses, which influenced age and aging. Presently, the digital transformation of public and private services, such as health and social services, is one of the governmental priorities in developed and developing countries. Digitalization is expected to enhance the availability of services and secure equal to access to them. Digital technologies and media have entered the workplace and in some fields, even become ubiquitous. In addition, citizens communicate to an increasing extent through digital media such as the internet and social media in their everyday life. However, both researchers (e.g., RasiHeikkinen, 2022; Seifert et al., 2018) and policy-makers (e.g., Digi arkeen -neuvottelukunta, 2019; World Health Organization, 2016) have acknowledged that besides promoting digital inclusion, mediatization may have exclusionary effects for some older adults. This is because there are older adults who are unable or not willing to use the provided digital technologies, media and services, or use them in a manner that does not fully benefit their well-being, everyday life, and participation in today’s digitalized society. Especially, in times of pandemics such as the Covid-19, the nonuse or limited use of digital technologies and media may have severe consequences for digital and social exclusions and a risk of obsolescence and loneliness (O’Sullivan et al., 2021). From the perspective of developed countries, internet nonuse may seem to be a marginal phenomenon; but even in these countries, there exists a broad digital gap in access, competence and resources between older generations (European Commission, 2022; International Telecommunication Union, 2021). Especially persons aged 80 years or more and older adults living in residential facilities are confronted with digital and social exclusion, even if they could benefit from information and communication technology (ICT) and smart technologies (Doh, 2020; Hunsaker & Hargittai, 2018). This Special Issue focuses on older adults’ digital inclusion, which is here understood through two viewpoints (see Hänninen et al., 2021). First, digital inclusion is defined as the extent to which older adults in general or special segments of older persons can participate as part of a digitalizing society through digital technologies, media and services. Second, digital inclusion encompasses digital engagement: that means policies, practices, and research projects developed to promote, examine, and evaluate older people’s participation in a digitalizing society. Furthermore, digital inclusion is connected to a variety of aspects such as digital skills, digital health literacy, digital empowerment, digital volunteering, and digital neighborhood. Digital inclusion is closely related to the concept of the digital divide, as digital inclusion aims to bridge close the digital divide. Previous research has revealed the complex and dynamic nature of digital divide, which can be seen to include at least three levels (Helsper, 2021; Scheerder et al., 2019). The first-level digital divide refers to access to the internet, the second level is related to differences in internet usage, skills, and literacies, whereas the third level divide is related to differences in individuals’ capacities to use the internet in a way that benefits enhances their participation in society. Older adults’ digital inclusion and exclusion have been studied within various disciplines and scientific fields such as communication and new media studies, social and cultural studies of technology, digital divide research, digital inequalities research and digital exclusion research (see RasiHeikkinen, 2022). Existing research has produced an extensive knowledge base about various types of digital divides, older adults’ use, nonuse or limited use of digital technologies and media, and about facilitating and hindering person-related and environmental-related factors for digital inclusions. In explaining the causes and consequences of digital inequalities and exclusion, the interrelations of economic, cultural, social, and personal factors have been taken into consideration. However, research evidence of the digital inclusion of the oldest age groups, older adults living in residential facilities, and EDUCATIONAL GERONTOLOGY 2023, VOL. 49, NO. 5, 345–347 https://doi.org/10.1080/03601277.2023.2205743

Using information and communication technologies (ICTs) can improve older adults’ quality of life. ICT use is associated with decreased feelings of loneliness and depression, along with increased feelings of independence and personal growth. However, limited access and low technological self-efficacy are key reasons why some groups, especially older adults, are excluded from being fully engaged in the digital world. In this study, we focus on older adults’ technological self-efficacy, which is related to their actual use of technology and the second level digital divide. Specifically, we examine: (a) how older adults decide to use a new technology, tablet computers; (b) how they conquer the barrier of technological self-efficacy through using tablets; and (c) the impacts of using this new technology in their lives. Twenty-one in-depth interviews were conducted with older adults residing in independent living communities in a medium-sized city in the Deep South region of the United States. Observational and enactive learning played important roles for older adults in using tablets. Seeing others use tablets, getting recommendations from family members, or having tablets given to them were the primary reasons they started to use tablet computers. The ease of use feature of tablets helped solve the problem of lacking technological self-efficacy. Using tablets helped increase a sense of connectedness. Tablet computers may be one way to increase digital inclusion among older adults.

ABSTRACT The goal of the study was to diagnose the needs of instructors working in the area of the digital inclusion of persons who are excluded, at risk of exclusion, marginalized, and discriminated against in terms of using new technologies. The research focused on the phenomenon of the digital divide as seen from the perspective of digital literacy educators of older adults. The study was conducted in 2019 in Poland, using a qualitative research methodology (a structured in-depth interview) and interpretative paradigm. The respondents were 8 specialists, educators of older adults, representing different types of institutions dealing with the digital divide: a activity center, a public library, a nursing home, an NGO, and a University of the Third Age. Triangulation of the results led to several important conclusions regarding to the expectations, experiences, challenges and postulated supporting actions related to digital inclusion. Based on the results gathered, we have noticed that educators readily share their didactic and organizational experience. The respondents were open to the development of their own teaching competences, and recognized the role of lifelong learning. They often highlighted that the digital education of older adults is only one of many additional activities. The activities to improve the digital literacy of older adults are implemented as part of their non-formal education (i.e. it is carried out by educators holding no formal qualifications). For this reason, the teachers expect content-related and methodological support most of all, as well as the promotion of the idea of lifelong education (including digital literacy development) in society.

Abstract In many parts of the world, older adults continue to face significant barriers to digital inclusion, but the source of that inequality is not well understood. However, we do not know enough about differences among older people seeking to improve their digital skills. Examining the impact of a national three-year digital inclusion programme reaching more than 580,000 older adults in Australia, this study explores factors that affect digital skills and literacy later in life. A mixed-methods approach involving a two time-point survey (N = 337) along with participant interviews (N = 30) examined the effectiveness of programme elements. A latent class analysis was applied to examine differences in the way older adults engage with digital technologies. Qualitative analysis helped to detail those differences. Programme outcomes were far from uniform, reflecting diverse motivations, lifecourse experiences, needs and capabilities among older adults, countering much existing research that tends to elide those differences. With reference to the concept of situated literacies, we highlight the importance of life experiences, needs and motivations to the outcomes of digital inclusion interventions. Our findings emphasise the need to disaggregate older adult internet users, and account for differences in life experiences, needs and motivations in the design and delivery of digital inclusion interventions at scale.

As society has become more reliant on digital technology, it has changed the perception of the ageing experience to now include a digital component. However, not every older adult perceives digital technology as essential to their way of ageing. In this article, we asked 76 older adults with different patterns of digital technology use how they experience and perceive the role of digital technology in the context of their ageing. The thematic analysis results point to a more nuanced understanding of the importance of familial support, the role of personal history or continuity in older adults’ digital inclusion, and how they see the role of age in relation to digital technology. Furthermore, our findings show that ageism is both a barrier and a motivational factor for older adults. When ageism is based on the level of digital inclusion, it can cause a different ageing experience, one that is perceived as superior by those using digital technology. This leads to a precarious situation: It becomes essential to maintain digital skills to avoid the non‐digital ageing experience even as it becomes more difficult to maintain their skills due to the evolution of technology. Prior to the study, we created a conceptual framework to understand ageing in a more digitalised world. We used the findings of this study to test the conceptual framework and we conclude that the framework can clarify the role (or lack) of digital technology in the ageing experience of older adults.

Governments across the globe have declared their commitment to building a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society. But despite rapid proliferation and, in many cases, extensive penetration of digital technologies, a significant proportion of the global population remains 'digitally excluded'. In the UK, the majority of those who fall into this category are the elderly, and yet digital technologies offer enormous potential benefits to this sector of the population. Age itself is not a barrier to using digital technologies, and although older people tend to face other barriers to access such as cost, skills or disability, research suggests that many simply do not perceive the relevance of these technologies to themselves. This paper reviews some of the literature relating to older people's use of digital technologies, and presents the results of a survey to investigate the perceptions of older users and non-users of the internet as a step towards understanding the factors which lie behind the current situation. A critical factor appears to be a lack of awareness and understanding of the 'digital world'. The paper concludes with some suggestions for how this could be overcome.

Digital solutions and social media platforms for older adults are widely associated with positive social and health-related outcomes. However, empirical evidence on their sustained use remains limited, particularly from a usability and accessibility perspective. Previous reviews have primarily examined social media use in later life from social or psychological perspectives, whereas this review focuses on digital inclusion and psychosocial well-being from a technological and ICT-oriented perspective. The aim is to examine how technological and design-related factors may help explain gaps between reported benefits and actual usage among older adults. It also seeks to support researchers and designers in understanding why many digital platforms fail to sustain long-term engagement despite reported initial benefits. The review further identifies areas where emerging approaches, such as AI- or VR/AR-supported (XR) systems, could be explored in future research. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, studies published between 2005 and 2025 were reviewed to identify key technological and user-related factors that influence online participation among older adults. Findings indicate that barriers related to digital literacy, accessibility, and usability are frequently associated with reduced engagement. At the same time, the potential role of user-friendly and well-designed platforms is often implied rather than empirically examined. Although inclusive and adaptable systems are widely discussed, explicit HCI- and interface-level usability evaluations remain surprisingly rare. None of the included studies examined AI- or XR-related features of social platforms. This indicates that ageing and social media research have yet to empirically address emerging technologies that increasingly shape online interaction. The review underscores the need for accessible and adaptable technological solutions that promote digital engagement and emotional well-being among older users.

As information and services are becoming more and more decentralized and they are often available in the cloud, an increasing number of older adults are expected to use Internet-based services –health, education, finance and others. For this reason, it seems important to plan models and/or strategies to allow the older adult population to acquire and enhance digital competencies more easily. The goal of this research is to show a blended workshop based on a Learning Management System (LMS) as a supporting tool for older adults’ digital literacy. This blended workshop was based on the adoption of an instructional model and on prior experiences of the groups of elderly that participated in the face-to-face workshops. This study involved 98 adults aged 60 and above, 72 Females (68.5 ± 6.9) and 26 Males (73.3 ± 7.4). 61 older adults participated in the face-to-face workshop (FFG) on digital literacy and 37 participated in the blended workshop (BLG). Digital literacy increased at the post-evaluation after the workshops but even more for the BLG. Likewise, in the validation of the blended workshop the results were positive regarding ease of use, perceived usefulness, attitude toward using and intention to use, which showed that older adults believe that it is useful to implement this type of supporting systems for developing their digital competencies. Hence, it is possible to conclude that older adults are capable of learning and acquiring digital literacy skills as long as they are strongly motivated or they know the functional benefits related to ICT.

Digital inclusion can bridge the digital divide and reduce the social exclusion of older adults, yet it is understudied in China. This research examined factors influencing the digital inclusion of older adults in China and the relationship between digital inclusion and quality of life. Data collected from 312 older people (M = 69.6 years old) in Nanjing were included in a multinomial logit model to tackle these questions. Their attitudes toward technology were the most significant factor predicting their digital inclusion. Other factors included party affiliation, living situation, personal average monthly income, occupation, and capacity for instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). This study shows digital inclusion has a direct impact on quality of life. It also serves as an intermediate variable that affects older people's attitudes toward technology and their IADL capacities. Most importantly, digital inclusion promotes social integration of older adults and improves the quality of their lives. Hence, it should not be ignored. Older people's attitudes toward technology are one of the keys to promoting their digital inclusion.

This paper examines the influence of socialisation agents in shaping digital competence in older adults (aged 65+ years). Data was collected from the University of the Third Age (U3A) Network Victoria, a volunteer organisation that provides courses and programs for the retired and semi-retired community. We used a two-stage approach; focus groups as a sensitising tool, followed by 21 in-depth interviews. The research identifies three distinct consumer socialisation processes: reciprocity, self-socialisation and outsourcing, and details the central socialisation agents influencing these processes and how these processes influence learners to reach different socialisation outcomes. Overall, this study sheds light on the complex socialisation processes that influence how older adults become digitally competent and the barriers they face in this process, illuminating the need to address negative attitudes, improve access to devices and support older adults in maintaining their independence.

… how older adults engage with digital … their Digital Maturity. Moving beyond deficit-based views of ageing and technology, it explores how older adults perceive and navigate their digital …

Digital inclusion is viewed as a crucial strategy for promoting social inclusion and addressing issues related to aging. This study focuses on the digital inclusion practices of rural senior citizens and introduces a life course research perspective to move the study of influencing factors from the proximal to the distal end. The motivations, trajectories, and barriers to digital inclusion among rural elderly groups are presented through participant observation and semi-structured interviews with 34 elderly people in a village in northern China. It was discovered that digital inclusion or exclusion is the cumulative result of life events, social roles, and personal agency in the life course, while it is difficult for the elderly to break away from traditional culture and social relations in rural areas in the digital age. The digital practice is not only an inner adjustment in the process of life stage transition for rural seniors but also an individual pursuit of active aging.

Abstract A lack of social support can hinder older adults’ digital inclusion. This chapter examines the connection between social and digital inclusion by focusing on the process of acquiring social support for digital technology use among older adults in Finland. Building on the concept of warm expert, the chapter shows that acquiring support for digital technology use is a reciprocal process that both enhances and requires digital inclusion. A qualitative analysis of 22 participant-induced elicitation interviews was conducted with older adults aged between 57 and 89. The chapter shows that social support reinforces digital inclusion by (a) ensuring older adults’ access to technology, (b) catering for their positive approach towards technology and (c) improving their skills to use technology independently. The connection between social and digital inclusion also operates the other way round. Digital inclusion is required to gain social support that is more readily at hand in a technology-mediated manner.

The article explores the redefinition of learning objectives within the context of digital education for older adults, addressing the critical need to enhance digital inclusion. It emphasizes the centrality of learning objectives as foundational elements in the design, implementation, and evaluation of educational programs. The study underscores the necessity of revising these objectives to promote the development of digital competences among older adults. As society becomes increasingly digitalized, traditional educational models must evolve to accommodate the dynamic digital landscape. The REMEDIS research initiative seeks to modernize educational frameworks and establish a more effective approach to cultivating digital skills in older populations. By employing SMART criteria and leveraging the expertise of senior and future trainers, the study identifies 12 key categories for contemporary educational objectives, including: basic computer and mobile device use, digital terminology, email communication, cybersecurity, online information retrieval, social media usage, instant messaging, culture and entertainment access, online financial management, e-commerce, smartphone software applications, and time management. The qualitative analysis of digital education objectives for older adults reveals a spectrum ranging from basic digital literacy to advanced e-service utilization, while also highlighting the importance of aligning these objectives with the practical needs of older adults.

… that digital skills and literacy training programs for older adults can help to extend digital inclusion, … This article examines the design and implementation of a nation-wide, state-led digital …

Many older adults are increasingly embracing digital technology in the Republic of Korea. This study investigated the relationship between the digital skills of Korean older adults and their perceived health status and digital technology application for health promotion. This mixed-method study comprised a community survey of 434 older adults aged ≥65 in two cities in South Korea, followed by focus group interviews. Five types of digital skills, ‘operational internet skills’, ‘information navigation skills’, ‘social skills’, ‘creative skills’, and ‘mobile skills’, were measured using the LSE digital skill measurement instrument. Multivariable analysis identified the influence of digital skills on health-related outcomes. Among them, ‘social skills’ associated positively with self-rated health (β 0.37, 95%CI 0.08, 0.65). ‘Information navigation skills’ contributed positively to the use of digital technology and the internet for a healthy lifestyle in terms of improving eating habits (β 0.43, 95%CI 0.09, 0.77), accessing healthcare (β 0.53, 95%CI 0.21, 0.85), and accessing long-term care services (β 0.45, 95%CI 0.11, 0.79). Thematic analysis revealed that the study participants use Korean language-based resources such as Naver and Kakao Talk for social connection to promote a healthy lifestyle. This study concludes that encouraging initial and sustained use of the internet and enhancing digital skills among Korean older adults can promote active and healthy aging.

Over the past thirty years and with the rise of the digital society, the process of digital exclusion has become increasingly noticeable and represents a sub-type of social exclusion. Shaping digital competences in the era of the intensive development of the information society requires constant reflection on the effectiveness of such activities. This article looks at what kind of barriers are currently blocking the development of digital competences among older people. Using structured interviews, responses were obtained from 30 respondents in Poland, though the respondents themselves did not belong to the demographic of older people. The respondents identified eight main types of barriers to digital inclusion for older people: 1) Fear of new technologies, 2) No need to use ICT, 3) Self-marginalisation in the information society, 4) The characteristics of new media, 5) Attitude to Life-Long Learning, 6) Physical limitations, 7) Economic determinants, and 8) Infrastructural limitations. The results of the qualitative research provide a fresh look at the process of the formation of digital competence among vulnerable groups within the wider process of digital inclusion. This article is the result of an international project REMEDIS supported in Poland by the National Science Centre - NCN [021/03/Y/HS6/00275].

ABSTRACT Older adults’ relationship to information and communications technology (ICT) is often discussed in terms of the digital divide or technology gap. Older persons, those 65 years of age and older, are seen as excluded or marginally represented in the digital sphere, even though data show their use of technology is increasing. Challenges in technology adoption and models for improving digital inclusion are both well-known, but the COVID pandemic and its general shift to digital life have created a critical need to increase digital inclusion of older persons. A case study of Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) and the organization’s migration from in-person to virtual programming is used as an example of reframing the way the relationship of older adults to technology is seen in the field and in practice. Policy and programming implications of this new view of technology are discussed in the conclusion.

This study analyses 'Do-It-Yourself' (DIY) gerontechnologies and shows that they can be viable and valuable alternatives to 'ready-made' gerontechnologies. Using the concept of innosumption, we analyze the work of care workers in gerontechnology showrooms in Norway. We show how and why care workers will sometimes advice older adults to assemble DIY-gerontechnologies. Such DIY-gerontechnologies are not high-tech solutions made by technology producers, but creative solutions that older adults' suit to their specific needs and assemble for themselves from mundane objects that are available in shops. So far, analyses of the design, implementation and use of gerontechnologies have almost exclusively focused on professionally designed and produced 'ready-made' gerontechnologies. But for various reasons, ready-made gerontechnologies often do not fit in well with the lives of older people. In such cases, care workers guide older people to the innosumption of DIY-gerontechnologies that offer workable solutions that are useful, quickly implemented, easily understandable and often cheap. We show that and how the existence of DIY-gerontechnologies questions the reasons behind the strong and widely accepted assumption that only high-tech innovations are a proper solution to the needs of older people.

Abstract Purpose This study explored the experiences of long-term care workers in using assistive technologies in dementia-specific care facilities in Taiwan, with a focus on perceived benefits, challenges encountered, and required support strategies. Methods A qualitative research design was employed. Ten female care workers from five dementia-specific long-term care institutions, each with at least 1 year of experience using assistive technologies, participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Participants generally reported that technologies such as bed-exit sensors, electronic fences, interactive robots, and sensory games improved work efficiency, reduced documentation errors, and helped soothe residents with dementia. However, the older care staff faced challenges related to complex user interfaces and insufficient training. A negative finding of this study was that the technologies often failed to align with real-world care needs and the behavioral characteristics of individuals with dementia, which negatively affected their willingness to use them. To effectively implement gerontechnologies, care facilities should adopt user-centered designs, establish effective communication channels, and provide peer support and tailored training programs. Conclusion Assistive technologies have the potential to reduce caregiving burdens. Nevertheless, inadequate consideration of support and design requirements can increase stress for long-term care workers. This study highlights the practical needs of older care staff and the importance of organizational support systems, offering valuable insights for future development and implementation of assistive technologies in long-term care settings. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Gerontechnology can reduce caregiving burden in dementia care through monitoring, guidance, and emotional support. Effective use requires user-centered design and adequate training for middle-aged care workers. Policy support, incentives, and evaluation are needed to promote sustainable adoption in long-term care.

Background Smart Senior Care (SSC) is vital for aging populations, yet its success depends on aligning end-users’ (older adults) needs with future providers’ (nursing students) perceptions. Limited research directly compares these groups to reveal supply–demand discrepancies. Objectives To compare self-perceived SEC knowledge, privacy concerns, and service preferences between community-dwelling older adults and nursing students, and to identify supply–demand misalignments relevant to education and service design. Methods A comparative cross-sectional survey was conducted in Chongqing, China (June–September 2025) using convenience sampling (older adults, n = 280; nursing students, n = 171). A Delphi-validated questionnaire assessed perceived SEC knowledge, privacy concerns, and preferences across five SEC domains. Group differences were tested using Mann–Whitney U and chi-square tests. Logistic regression examined predictors of students’ intention to work in SEC. Economic pathways linking income, satisfaction, and willingness-to-pay among older adults were explored using Sankey analysis. Results Nursing students reported higher perceived SEC knowledge and lower privacy concern than older adults (both p < 0.001). Students prioritized technology- and monitoring-oriented services (e.g., health monitoring, medical nursing), whereas older adults more often emphasized daily-life assistance and emotional support. Educational intervention was the strongest predictor of students’ career intention in SEC (OR = 2.85, 95% CI 1.45–5.60, p < 0.05). Lower service satisfaction was consistently associated with lower willingness-to-pay across income groups. Conclusion Substantial perception gaps exist between future providers and older adults regarding SEC, particularly around privacy and non-medical needs. Integrating user-centered, community-based training and digital ethics into nursing curricula, while prioritizing service quality and trust-building in SEC design, may improve adoption and sustainability.

The institutional drive to deploy digital assistive technologies—from IoT monitoring to AI companions—as a solution to the aging care crisis functions as an ethical double-edged sword. This article argues that beyond isolated risks, these technologies introduce a systemic tension where gains in safety and efficiency often come at the cost of autonomy, human connection, and equity. We propose a critical framework that diagnoses four interconnected dimensions of this tension: (1) the erosion of privacy and autonomy through pervasive surveillance; (2) the risk of dehumanization in high-tech, low-touch interactions; (3) the “digital grey divide” as a social determinant of health; and (4) the perpetuation of “coded ageism” through algorithmic bias. To bridge the gap between ethical principle and practice, the framework translates this diagnosis into a practical roadmap for “Dignity-by-Design.” It operationalizes person-centered care through three actionable shifts: moving from compliance to commitment, replacing static consent with dynamic engagement, and establishing the lived experience of older adults and caregivers as a core design standard via participatory action research. Ultimately, this work provides a critical tool for researchers, developers, and policymakers to guide the ethically aligned implementation of technologies that truly enhance autonomy, foster trust, and uphold dignity in geriatric care.

AbstractWhile gerontechnology research mainly focuses on urban and high-income settings, this paper investigates the challenges and opportunities in rural, resource-limited areas. …

Abstract Smart devices, systems, and services are transforming various aspects of daily life, offering new opportunities for the well-being of older adults. This article explores the grand challenges associated with evolving smart technology for the aged population. Based on the collective effort of 13 experts, their insights were categorized into six grand challenges of smart technology for older adults: DISUSE (underutilization of smart technology), USE (user knowledge, goal complexity, and risk-potential tradeoff), MISUSE (overreliance on smart technology), ABUSE (in appropriate application of smart technology), TIME (evolving relationship between older adults and smart technology), DOMAIN (potential and barriers of technology use in health, home, and work). Each grand challenge is further elaborated through its components or emerging issues, leading to implications for elderly-friendly smart technology. Addressing these challenges requires collaborative efforts to ensure that smart technology effectively enhances active and healthy aging.

… challenges internally through educational training and peer learning … engaged in the advancement of gerontechnology products. … Additionally, in the application of services, …

Abstract Background and Objectives Involving older persons in the design process of digital technology (DT) promotes the development of technologies that are appealing, beneficial, and used. However, negative discourse on aging and ageism are potential underlying factors that could influence which and how DTs are designed and how older persons are involved in the design process. This scoping review investigates the explicit and implicit manifestations of ageism in the design process of DT. Research Design and Methods Seven databases were screened for studies reporting on the design of DT with older persons between January 2015 and January 2020. Data regarding study and DT characteristics, discourse about older persons, and their involvement in the design process were extracted, coded, and analyzed using critical discourse analysis. Results Sixty articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. Various forms of exclusion of older persons from the design process were identified, such as no or low involvement, upper-age limits, and sample biases toward relatively “active,” healthy and “tech-savvy” older persons. Critical discourse analysis revealed the use of outdated language, stereotypical categorizations, and/or design decisions based on ageism in 71.7% of the studies. Discussion and Implications A discrepancy was found between an “ideal” discourse regarding the involvement of older persons throughout the design process and actual practice. Manifestations of ageism, errors, and biases of designing DT with older persons are discussed. This article calls for more authentic inclusion of older persons and higher awareness toward the implications of ageism in the design process of DT.

Objective Paucity of information concerning the efficacy of gerontechnologies to support aging in place among community-dwelling older adults prevents potential users, healthcare professionals, and policymakers from making informed decisions on their use. The goal of this study was to identify gerontechnologies tested for home support in dyads of community-dwelling older adults with unimpaired cognition and their family caregivers, including their benefits and challenges. We also provide the level of evidence of the studies and recommendations to address the specific challenges preventing their use, dissemination, and implementation. Methods We conducted a systematic review of the literature published between 2016 and 2021 on gerontechnologies tested for home support in dyads. Two independent reviewers screened the abstracts according to the inclusion/exclusion criteria. A third reviewer resolved eligibility discrepancies. Data extraction was conducted by two independent reviewers. Results Of 1,441 articles screened, only 13 studies met the inclusion criteria with studies of moderate quality. Mostly, these gerontechnologies were used to monitor the older adult or the environment, to increase communication with family caregivers, to assist in daily living activities, and to provide health information. Benefits included facilitating communication, increasing safety, and reducing stress. Common challenges included difficulties using the technologies, technical problems, privacy issues, increased stress and dissatisfaction, and a mismatch between values and needs. Conclusion Only a few gerontechnologies have proven efficacy in supporting community-dwelling older adults and their family caregivers. The inclusion of values and preferences, co-creation with end users, designing easy-to-use technologies, and assuring training are strongly recommended to increase acceptability and dissemination. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=310803, identifier CRD42022310803.

… users, leading to mismatches between their product and the … training was provided. For example, one respondent stated, “I think he should be able to read without the need for training in …

… starting his PhD training as a sociologist in an interdisciplinary gerontechnology project that … ) and highlights the injustices and mismatches that can be designed into technologies for …

AgeTech, a subset of the health technology industry, uses technology to support healthy aging, and support care partners and health professionals to improve quality of life for aging adults. By enhancing and adapting alternative care approaches through emerging technologies, it is possible to enable and extend the ability for older adults to safely age in place within their own homes, improve care experiences, and/or decrease long-term care costs/needs. With the rapid development and proliferation of AgeTech into the consumer market, it is paramount for policymakers and funders to ensure that AgeTech solutions can be leveraged to support older adults to age well in place. This paper highlights five key messages for policymakers and funders drawing on experiences from Canada. First, it is essential to embrace a life course perspective on aging, recognizing the heterogeneity of older adults who experience diverse and evolving needs. AgeTech should adapt as needs and capacities evolve. Second, AgeTech should solve a real problem. Technology must be well aligned to the needs and preferences of older adults to be impactful. Third, health related AgeTech should empower, enhance, or support existing health care services, while recognizing the value of human interactions. In-person interactions can provide meaningful connection and important health data which should be enhanced not replaced. Fourth, the establishment and ongoing fostering of authentic partnerships to inform, co-create and co-design AgeTech solutions is key to developing successful products. Finally, policymakers and funders have an important role to play in enabling accelerated design, development and testing to meet current and future needs.

Artificial intelligence products (AIPs) for older adults enhance the functions of traditional products and improve the quality of their lives. However, AIPs are not popular among this population, and limited attempts have been made to investigate these users’ negative tendencies regarding AIPs. This study explores the causes of avoidance and exit behaviors toward AIPs among older people from both a functional and socio-emotional mismatch perspective. Data were collected from 1102 older AIP users to verify the research model and hypotheses. The results indicate that perceived control and expectation disconfirmation affect the functional mismatch, while public stigma has the greatest impact on the socio-emotional mismatch. Furthermore, the results highlight a mixed influence of the functional and socio-emotional mismatches on negative behaviors. This study explores older people’s negative tendencies toward AIPs, comprehensively considering the functions of AIPs and the socio-emotions they evoke. Thus, it provides new empirical evidence for the systematic relationship between the functional mismatch and the socio-emotional mismatch and fills the research gap on the influence on the subsequent behaviors of older adults. Additionally, this study sheds light on the specific methods of designing, developing, and promoting AIPs.

… Thus, training design that focuses on mismatches between technical devices and the user can … If we can guarantee a better design, fewer mismatches and errors may occur in human …

The World Health Organization’s age-friendly city initiative emerged as a response to the intersecting global trends of population ageing and urbanisation. However, a third global trend—digitalisation—has largely been overlooked in research and policy making relating to age-friendly cities and communities. Within the context of a general shift towards online civic participatory activities, this article explores older adults’ digital citizenship in an age-friendly city in the North of England. Drawing on interviews, observations and field notes from design workshops as part of an ongoing participatory action research project, we consider two key questions. First, how does an age-friendly city stakeholder organisation of older adults make use of digital technologies in order to provide digital information and communications? Second, what is the potential of digital audio to increase civic participation in later life and local engagement with age-friendly issues? Our analysis focuses on two domains of the World Health Organization’s age-friendly city framework: Communication and information and civic participation. First, we report on the stakeholder organisation’s efforts to re-design their digital newsletter in order to provide information and communications to older residents about local work on ageing projects. We then outline the organisation’s efforts, in a public setting, to engage with digital audio as a way to increase the participation of older residents with age-friendly topics. We conclude by suggesting the need to re-frame the role of digital technologies within the age-friendly city, broadening the scope from accessibility towards enhancing digital citizenship opportunities.

AIM To explore how nurses facilitate social connectivity among older adults in virtual age-friendly communities in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia by serving as digital bridges and emotional anchors. Additionally, the study aimed to identify the factors that influence the effectiveness of nurse-led interventions in enhancing digital literacy and reducing social isolation among older adults. DESIGN A qualitative study. METHOD Semi-structured interviews were conducted between June and August 2024 with 12 older adult participants and 10 nurse participants involved in virtual age-friendly community initiatives in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Data were analysed using a hybrid approach that combined deductive thematic analysis-guided by socio-technical systems theory and relationship-centred care principles-with inductive analysis to identify key themes related to digital facilitation, emotional support and social connectivity. RESULTS The findings indicate that nurse-led digital and emotional support significantly enhances older adults' digital literacy and emotional well-being, leading to improved social connectivity. Nurses acting as digital bridges provided essential technical guidance, while their role as emotional anchors offered empathetic support that mitigated feelings of isolation. However, challenges such as technical issues, resource limitations and cultural factors moderated the overall effectiveness of these interventions. CONCLUSION The study underscores the pivotal role of nurse-led interventions in promoting social connectivity among older adults in virtual settings. Future research should explore strategies to overcome technical and resource-related barriers and further integrate culturally sensitive approaches to optimise the benefits of digital health initiatives. IMPLICATION FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE Healthcare practitioners and policymakers should prioritise the implementation of nurse-led digital and emotional support programmes to reduce social isolation and improve the overall quality of life for older adults. Culturally tailored interventions are essential to address the unique needs of ageing populations in the digital era. REPORTING METHOD The study was reported in accordance with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ). PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION The insights obtained from older adult participants and nurses provided critical understanding of the dynamics and impact of digital and emotional support within virtual age-friendly communities.

Many barriers exist in the lives of older adult’s, including health, transport, housing, isolation, disability and access to technology. The appropriate integration of technology within age-friendly communities continues to offer possible solutions to these barriers and challenges. Older adults and disabled people continue to be affected and marginalized due to lack of access to the digital world. Working collaboratively with planners, policy makers and developers, social and living spaces in the future will ensure that residents are equipped to live in an era that continues to be led by, and is dependent upon, access to technology. This review paper uniquely draws together the small volume of literature from the fields of gerontology, gerontechnology, human computer interaction (HCI), and disability. This paper examines the national and international age-friendly frameworks regarding older adults who are carers of dependent people with disabilities.

… possible to conceive of a shift to more aspirational, age-friendly design. … supporting connectedness as part of popular social media, as well as ensuring digital learning platforms support …

Understanding digital healthcare services in age-friendly community (AFC) initiatives and their implementation is crucial for developing evidence-based policies and practices. In this study, we aim to explore the question, “What is it about digital healthcare services that work, for whom, and under what circumstances?” in top-down AFC initiatives using Shanghai, China, as a representative case. We employed a novel realist evaluation methodology and gathered insights from critical informants and users, including policymakers, community officers responsible for implementing AFC initiatives, and older adults. The findings revealed six context-mechanism-outcome configurations. The government-led top-down AFC initiative, along with its related policies, serves as a critical context for supporting the provision of digital healthcare services and improving outcomes for older adults and their communities. A bottom-up approach values individual demand-oriented methods, providing digital healthcare services in AFC initiatives by considering older adults’ health and social situation as a critical context, utilizing digital care services and support as resources, and enhancing user experience. A feasible path forward is to support healthcare professional-led collaboration in developing and implementing digital healthcare services, aligning bottom-up and top-down practices, and focusing on individual demand, social equity, privacy concerns, and data-driven feedback. Top-up support, active engagement of providers, and closer local monitoring of digital healthcare service implementation in AFC initiatives may encourage long-term effectiveness and sustainability.

Social connectedness in later life is an important dimension of an age-friendly community, with associated implications for individual health and wellbeing. In contrast with prior efforts focusing on connections at a distance or online communities where the digital technology is the interface, we explore the design opportunities and role of technology for connectedness within a geographically local community context. We present findings from interviews with 22 older adults and a linked ideation workshop. Our analysis identified shared concerns and negative perceptions around local relationships, connections and characteristics of the geographical area. However, local connectedness through technology was largely absent from day-to-day life and even perceived as contributing to disconnection. By uncovering how older adults use and perceive technology in their social lives and combining these findings with their ideas for improving local connections, we highlight the need for thoughtful consideration of the role of technology in optimising social connections within communities. Our research highlights a need for design work to understand the specifics of the local context and reduce emphasis on technology as the interface between people. We introduce an amended definition—‘underpinned by a commitment to respect and social inclusion, an age-friendly community is engaged in a strategic and ongoing process to facilitate active ageing by optimising the community’s physical, social and digital environments and its supporting infrastructure’—to conceptualise our approach. We conclude by suggesting areas for future work in developing digitally connected age-friendly communities.

This qualitative investigation makes suggestions about creating age-friendly cities for older adults focusing on three domains of the World Health Organization (WHO) age-friendly city framework namely “Communication and Information”, “Outdoor Spaces and Buildings” and “Social Participation”. The authors present two case studies, the first one focusing on older adults using activity wearables for health self-management in the neighborhood, and the second one focusing on older adults engaged in social prescribing activities in the community. The authors then reflect on the relationships of the domains and future opportunities for age-friendly cities. These case studies apply a co-design and citizen-based approach focusing within these larger frameworks on emotions, values and motivational goals of older adults. Results suggest how the convergence of the often siloed age-friendly city components based on older adults’ goals and input can lead to better social participation and longer-term health outcomes. The authors propose that the digital, physical and social aspects need to be considered in all domains of age-friendly cities to achieve benefits for older adults. Further work involving older adults in the future shaping of age-friendly neighborhoods and cities, and identifying barriers and opportunities is required.

… that requires increased care support, these portals offer great … , and challenges from the digital divide affecting the registration … with varying levels of digital literacy, particularly between …

The ageing of urban populations poses serious challenges for policymakers and urban planners alike. While the number of people over 65 is increasing in urban areas, the digital transition in cities raises concerns about the persisting digital divide facing older citizens, as well as the digital inequality and ageism inherent to most digital domains. As ageing in place and place attachment play a significant role in the social engagement and well-being of older people, the purpose of this research is to shed light on the novel approaches taken by local governments to foster active participation among senior residents in the digital public sphere. Using semi-structured interviews with public officials from three age-friendly cities in Spain, we have explored innovative urban projects for digital inclusion, active ageing, and autonomy for older people. The findings of the study reveal the importance of coordinated multi-stakeholder initiatives in promoting digital literacy and overcoming barriers rooted in ageism in the digital world. True representation of older people in local governments, the promotion of co-creation initiatives led by seniors, and the standardisation of universal design and accessibility are some of the key contributions made by Spanish cities in their transition toward places that are digitally inclusive and age-friendly.

… They were developing broad support around the issue of age-friendly policies and settings required to form a community network involving the city council, the Senior Advisory Council, …

… go beyond expanding digital access and strengthen digital competence, age-friendly digital environments, and positive views of aging to support healthier and more inclusive aging. …

… This study addresses the intersection of digital inclusion and reading technology by investigating how age-friendly design can support older adults' meaningful participation in digital …

ABSTRACT Technology is increasingly being integrated into Age-Friendly Environments (AFEs). This study explores how technology is manifested in AFE policies in China. We conducted a content analysis of 176 policies spanning seven years to identify the relationship between technology and AFEs and the characteristics of policy development. The findings indicate that technology plays a role in advancing a smart age-friendly society, particularly in terms of enhancing community support and health services and promoting social inclusion. The findings also reveal a list of policy actions and changes in collaborative leadership and strategic priorities throughout policy development. This study emphasizes the need for ongoing policy attention to technology as an integrated component of AFE policies.

Purpose This exploration begins with understanding the concept of age-friendly cities and communities as guided by the World Health Organisation. The purpose of this study is to assesses the potential of the concept of age-friendly cities and how these initiatives are driven by commitments to create an environment that promotes active ageing, leveraging digital tools and technologies to enhance connectivity, accessibility and overall well-being of the older. Design/methodology/approach The viewpoint discussed the diverse ways in which the unique concept of age-friendly cities or living areas can be explored in India. Such concepts will create a more inclusive society for the older people around us. Findings The viewpoint highlighted a few global cases of age-friendly cities. It emphasised their innovative approaches, lessons learned, best practices and challenges. These real-time examples inspire, showing us the potential and success of such initiatives. They also help us understand the areas we must work on to create such environments for our older people. The chapter also evaluates the initiatives and projects undertaken in India so far to enhance the living experience of the older, integrating digital technologies. By analysing India’s journey towards age-friendly initiatives, the discussion provides detailed insights for policymakers and other societal stakeholders to broaden the development framework that holistically incorporates the ageing population’s needs. Originality/value The concept of age-friendly cities in India is not just a new approach but a crucial one in the near future. Owing to the existing diversity in our country, this discussion presented in this viewpoint will help to emphasise the need to create separate policies and implement the same at various levels. Ageing is inevitable, and this study’s reflections will also allow families and society to prioritise the needs of older adults in their families and around them. This work will also create an opportunity for all society’s stakeholders to look at older adults’ needs differently and more practically, underlining the urgency and importance of this issue.

… Age-friendly built environment enables older adults to be … social infrastructure is not supported by the European Investment … , age-friendly environment supported by digital technologies, …