Sustainable Digital Literacy Education for Older Adults and Healthy Aging

• In Event: Emotion, Imagination, and Engagement: Affective Elements of Adults' Digital Practices

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of digital skills on healthy aging among underrepresented older adults, focusing on participants in the “Home Connect” digital literacy program offered by a non-profit organization. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study found that older adults’ digital literacy skills are significantly associated with their health management, interpersonal connections, and social engagement in both the short and long term. These findings provide valuable insights from both a lifelong learning and a geragogical perspective. In particular, the results highlight the importance of tailoring digital literacy education to the unique and evolving learning needs, preferences, and contexts of older adult learners.

Authors

• Hyewon Park, University of California - Davis

• Jieun You, Valdosta State University

• Jeongsan Hwang, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Boram Yu, Yonsei University