EMPOWERING CAREGIVERS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY: AN INTERGENERATIONAL APPROACH TO DIGITAL LITERACY & CONNECTION

Sep 29, 2026

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Many older adult caregivers struggle to find reliable resources because limited digital literacy increases stress. Intergenerational digital literacy programs, such as the University of Rhode Island’s (URI) Cyber-Seniors, aim to bridge this gap by strengthening older adults’ technology skills while fostering student connections. This mixed-methods research presentation reports pretest survey findings from a pilot modeled after Cyber-Seniors, involving six college students and nine family caregivers supported through training and weekly meetings. Pretest measures assess perceptions of aging, intergenerational relationships, and relational aging anxiety, with qualitative themes emerging from participants’ reflections.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Study design and participants

Measures and pretest survey themes

Generational perceptions and engagement motivations

640 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.2187 EMPOWERING CAREGIVERS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY: AN INTERGENERATIONAL APPROACH TO DIGITAL LITERACY & CONNECTION Cathy Tompkins1, Emily Ihara1, Skye Leedahl2, and Jill Juris3, 1. George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, United States, 2. University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, United States, 3. Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, United States Many older adult caregivers struggle to find reliable resources due to limited digital literacy, increasing their stress. Intergenerational digital literacy programs, like the University of Rhode Island’s (URI) Cyber-Seniors, help bridge this gap by enhancing older adults’ tech skills and fostering student connections. This mixed-methods research presentation explores pretest survey findings from a pilot program modeled after URI Cyber-Seniors. Six college students work with nine family caregivers to improve technology skills and access caregiving resources. A pretest survey, using a modified COCOA measurement tool, Geriatrics Attitudes Scale, and Relational Aging Anxiety Scale, assesses perceptions of aging and intergenerational relationships. Open-ended questions explore students’ views on aging, career interests, and older adults’ impressions of younger generations. The program includes five hours of training and runs for five weeks, with weekly student-caregiver meetings. Three students are in an MSW program, two are undergraduate social work majors, and one is a doctoral student. All identify as female, aged 18-29; 33% are white, and 33% multiracial. Caregivers range from 50-89 years old, 78% female, and 55% white. Using grounded theory analysis, emerging student themes range from discomfort working with older adults to strong enthusiasm for intergenerational engagement. Caregivers frequently describe younger generations by referencing technology proficiency but often include negative descriptors such as “challenged,”“unaware,” or “entitled.” This discussion will explore generational perceptions, shared strengths, and motivations for engaging in intergenerational programs.

FAQs

Why do older adult caregivers have difficulty finding reliable resources?

Limited digital literacy makes it harder to locate trustworthy resources, which increases stress for many older adult caregivers.

What does the intergenerational program in the pilot focus on?

The program improves older adults’ technology skills and access to caregiving resources while fostering connections with college students through training and weekly meetings.

How were pretest perceptions assessed in the study?

A modified COCOA measurement tool, a Geriatrics Attitudes Scale, and a Relational Aging Anxiety Scale were used to assess perceptions of aging and intergenerational relationships, complemented by open-ended questions.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Eliana