Age-related digital disparities, functional limitations, and social isolation: unraveling the grey digital divide between baby boomers and the silent generation in senior living facilities

Abstract

Objectives The onset of the digital age has sparked a significant age-related digital divide, detrimentally affecting older adults. The age-related digital disparities and the gray digital divide between the Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation in senior living facilities remains an exigent issue. This study explored the lived experiences of older adults as they confront the challenges posed by age-related digital disparities inherent in the gray digital divide in senior living facilities. Methods In-depth, semi-structured interviews and observations were conducted with 28 older adults living in six senior living facilities in three urban locations. Moustakas’s transcendental phenomenology was employed, and the Modified Stevick-Colaizzi-Keen method was used to analyze the data. Results This study identified six main themes: barriers to connectivity, digital literacy, generational-rooted perceptions, navigating technology with functional limitations, social isolation, and end-of-life planning. Conclusion The gray digital divide disproportionately affects older adults in senior living facilities. The study emphasizes the need for tailored interventions and targeted support to address the specific needs of each cohort and reduce age-related disparities. Addressing these disparities has significant implications for academics, policy-makers, senior living accommodations, and technology developers.