Citation

Tirado-Morueta R, Rodríguez-Martín A, Álvarez-Arregui E, Ortíz-Sobrino M, Aguaded-Gómez JI. Ageing Soc. 2023; 43(6): 1409-1435.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Cambridge University Press)

DOI

10.1017/S0144686X21001173

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

While life expectancy increases in developed countries and there is evidence that demonstrates the potential of the internet to optimise or compensate for the losses associated with ageing, there is a high proportion of older people who continue to be disconnected from the digital world. In this scenario, the technological support offered by public institutions has the potential to be an accessible source for the digital literacy of older people. This study, using the model of digital inequality, had the aim of analysing the ability of these institutional supports to determine and predict the digital inclusion of older people. The sample was retired adults (over 54 years) residing in Spain who are users of technological support services in four organisational contexts: nursing homes, senior community centres, University Programs for Seniors and adult education programmes. Through binary logistic regression analysis, we found that the ability of the availability of literacy support to determine and predict access, autonomy, skills and use of the internet for social connectivity depends on the social and organisational context of the technology support service. These findings support empirically the situated nature of technological support for the digital inclusion of older people and provide a useful comparative vision for the design of accessible support services adapted to the needs of its users.

Language: en

Keywords

digital divide; digital literacy; digital skills; Internet access; older adults