Older Americans Month is here, a time of the year where we honor the contributions of older adults to society, and consider the circumstances with which they now age. Experts and organizations within the field of aging, like NHCOA and our frequent collaborator, the Administration for Community Living (ACL), believe that we owe a great deal of attention and effort to ensure that these community members age comfortably, and with dignity.
ACL has declared this Older Americans Month’s theme to be Powered by Connection, in order to emphasize the incredible impact that strong connections with others can have on an older adult’s health. Specifically, maintaining strong connections with their loved ones and community can have a profound impact on the longevity and general health of older adults, as it deters feelings of loneliness and social isolation. In our earlier blog post on Social Isolation and Loneliness, we explored methods to connect with others, but many of the easiest methods rely on technology.
While many older adults have grown accustomed to using the internet, there are still large swaths of the older adult population who struggle with digital literacy. Over the last two decades, we have witnessed a massive shift in the way we socialize, work, shop, and more, to leaning heavily on technology and the internet. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve seen that shift come to include our medical system as well, and even the ways we receive benefits to access that system. While many of us find convenience in this shift, for others it has been a brutal adjustment that has inhibited access to necessary services, and communication tools. This is more commonly known as the digital divide, and its impact is due to both lower levels of technological literacy as well as lack of access to internet service altogether.
There are efforts to mend the digital divide, including organizations like NHCOA who work in the field of aging. AT&T has made a combined commitment of $5 billion since 2021, towards providing discounted internet service and programs that improve digital literacy. Efforts like these are what we as a country need to see more of, so that we can close the digital divide and enable convenient access for all, including older adults and other disadvantaged communities who struggle to find internet access.
On the ground level, we must encourage more dialogue on this understated issue. The power of connection is immense, but only when accessible. Consider the older adults in your community, and whether they are digitally literate, or have access to the internet at home, or know where to access it in public venues. This Older Americans Month, consider the value of connection and the obstacles keeping older adults from its benefits. The ideal vision of a society where our older adults can age with comfort and dignity, is an intersectional endeavor, especially when it comes to equitable health care. For health care to be equitable for all demographics, the hurdle of a digital divide cannot be ignored.
Sources:
“Older Americans Month 2024,” Older Americans Month 2024: Powered by Connection. Administration for Community Living. https://acl.gov/oam/2024/older-americans-month-2024
“AT&T Commitment to Help Close the Digital Divide Increases to $5 Billion,” AT&T Newsroom. AT&T. https://about.att.com/story/2024/digital-divide-recommitment.html
Recent Comments