Aspects of ICT connectivity among older adults living in rural subsidized housing: reassessing the digital divide

Abstract

PurposeThis article examines aspects of information communication technology (ICT) connectivity among the understudied population of low-income older adults living in rural and peri-urban subsidized housing. We aim to investigate if variations exist in access and connectivity when economic and housing conditions are constant and use data from northern New England.Design/methodology/approachThe multidisciplinary, mixed-methods approach involved administering structured surveys using iPads with senior residents (n = 91) from five housing sites, qualitative observations by field researchers and an ecological assessment of ICT resources at housing, community and state levels.FindingsAll subsidized housing sites were broadband accessible and nearby libraries. Fewer sites had Wi-Fi freely available to residents, and individual residents disparately accessed the Internet. Age and education demonstrably influenced ICT use of social media and email. Technology in the form of iPads used for surveys posed functional challenges for some older adults, but these technology-mediated interactions were also perceived as important sites of sociability.Originality/valueOlder adults disparately access and use ICT relative to socioeconomic status even as housing conditions remain constant, and access and use influences frequency of social connections with friends and family. The findings reveal factors that contribute to the existing digital divide facing older adults and broader lack of digital equity.

Public managers perception on artificial intelligence: the case of the State of Mexico

“…Similarly, just one article collected observation data. Golomski et al (2022) 4). Within the Health articles, these often analyzed older adults' use of digital health information (e.g.…”

“…Although the balance between quantitative and qualitative varied across disciplines, Sociology was the only field where qualitative methods dominated. For the mixed methods studies, Golomski et al (2022) The dominant quantitative approach meant that surveys were the most frequent method of data collection (Table 3). 14 of the 33 surveys were distributed face-to-face, 11 were distributed online and four were paper-based only, with the remaining four distributed in some combination of these distribution methods.…”

“…Statements of journal aims were read to verify the disciplinary "conversations" at hand. For example, Golomski et al (2022) A deeper reading of the articles provided an opportunity to verify the conversations taking place and recode them as appropriate. For example, Gallistl et al (2021) in the Journal of Aging Studies was originally categorized as Health/Wellness, but upon a further deeper review of the article it was moved to Sociology .…”

Digital Literacy Training for Low-Income Older Adults Through Undergraduate Community-Engaged Learning: Single-Group Pretest-Posttest Study

“…Some estimates indicate that only 25% of older residents in low-income housing have reliable internet access [ 18 ]. However, another study on low-income housing residents showed that although the housing communities in the study had access to broadband, few of the residents used the internet [ 19 ]. Thus, providing broadband and a digital device is insufficient.…”