Aging in the digital era happens in a challenging context
The 21st Century is characterized by rapidly expanding digitalisation. Digital technologies can assist in learning new skills, facilitate social interactions, foster independent and autonomous living, and improve the management and delivery of health and social care services for aging populations.
However, not everyone equally benefits. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the unequal access to digital technologies across and within populations. Older persons are more likely to be digitally excluded and to experience barriers accessing goods and services that are increasingly provided online. Digital exclusion reduces opportunities for active and healthy aging, including social and economic participation.
The challenge is not only to empower aging individuals by providing access to digital technologies and enhancing digital literacy. Age-friendly design and relevance of digital services, as well as ageism free, ethical and safe digital environments that embrace the diversity of aging populations need to be ensured.
Suggested strategies
Digital inclusion and empowerment of older persons in the digital era requires policy action to:
- Ensure equal access to goods and services involving digital technology, through participatory design and policy initiatives that render online services such as e-Government, e-banking, e-commerce, e-learning and tele-health services available, accessible, affordable and user-friendly, while maintaining continued off-line access.
- Enhance digital literacy and reduce the digital skills gaps by providing training to safely and securely navigate digital environments, including intergenerational and peer learning opportunities, as well as measures that tackle ageism, to encourage digital engagement among older persons.
- Leverage the potential of digital technologies for active and healthy aging, well-being and empowerment of older persons including through digital communications that can reduce loneliness and social isolation, and digital technologies that can foster opportunities for independent living in advanced age.
- Ensure the protection of human rights of older persons in the digital era by creating ethical, transparent and safe digital environments and services through policies that protect the dignity, autonomy, privacy, as well as free and informed consent to the use of digital technology.
Expected results
A reduction in the digital divide and enhanced digital inclusion of older persons; expanded opportunities to benefit from the advantages of digitalisation with mitigated associated risks.
Details and Good Practice examples from Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America:
Policy brief addressing Commitments 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the Regional Implementation Strategy of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (RIS/MIPAA), Goal 1, 2 and 3 of the 2017 Lisbon Ministerial Declaration, as well as Sustainable Development Goals 3, 4, 5, 10, and 11. (UNECE | Working Group on Ageing | www.unece.org/population ), https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2021-07/PB26-ECE-WG.1-38_0.pdf