Older Adults and Digital Technologies

Abstract

The increase in the global population of adults over the age of 65 years has occurred alongside other developments at the individual, societal, and structural level, and these changes have shaped the world we live in, altered our life experiences, and transformed our expectations across the life course. A key factor has been the influence of technology and the increasingly technological nature of our interactions and communications in the public and private sphere. This chapter considers the ways in which technology intersects with aging at the individual and societal level by considering what is known about older adults (65+ years) and their use of technology, particularly digital technology, and also what the future holds for people as they age and as they use technology to remain independent, healthy, and socially connected. The key themes addressed in the context of population aging include the evolving technological landscape relevant to people as they age, older adults’ engagement with everyday technologies for information and communication, identifying the opportunities and barriers that need to be considered with older people’s access to and use of technology, and how forms of assistive technology can support older people, including those with complex needs, to age well within their community.