THREE COMMUNITY-TESTED STRATEGIES TO INCREASE HARD-TO-REACH OLDER ADULTS’ DIGITAL HEALTH LITERACY

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by James

Technology use among older adults is rising globally but remains low, with the lowest rates among the oldest old and among groups with less education and lower affluence. Social isolation and loneliness are common, often alongside multiple chronic diseases. Strengthening digital health literacy—digital skills and awareness of telehealth resources—offers a promising pathway, supported by a four-year development and testing effort. Three community-based strategies improve digital literacy and telehealth awareness, with trust shown as central to engaging technology-resistant learners.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Overview

Problem context

Digital health literacy approach

Four-year effort

Tested models and strategies

Role of trust

Outcomes and limitations

Resources and future considerations

Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 391 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.1331 THREE COMMUNITY-TESTED STRATEGIES TO INCREASE HARD-TO-REACH OLDER ADULTS’ DIGITAL HEALTH LITERACY Paul Freddolino, Fei Sun, Ha-Neul Kim, Ayaka Lingard, and AnnMarie Schneider, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States In most parts of the world, technology use among older adults is increasing, yet remains low. Lowest user rates are among the oldest old, less affluent, and less educated groups of older adults. 392 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 Many older adults suffer from social isolation and loneliness, often alongside multiple chronic diseases. Enhancing digital health literacy, which includes improving digital skills and awareness of the resources available through telehealth, presents a promising strategy to address these issues. This session will highlight the results of a four-year effort to develop and test models designed to increase hard-to-reach older adults’ digital health literacy. Three successful strategies have emerged: 1) Trained volunteer coaches go directly to home delivered meals recipients’ homes for coaching; 2) Coaches present at congregate meal sites and senior center special programs; and 3) Local groups develop unique strategies that fit their preferences and resources, using manuals and videos freely shared with agencies. Process evaluation points to the role of trust in getting technology resistant older adults to be willing to learn about devices and telehealth. Preliminary outcome data from trials using all three models show improved digital literacy and increased telehealth awareness. However, results on loneliness and isolation measures have not shown statistically significant improvement, likely due to relatively positive scores on these measures at baseline and the relatively low intensity of the interventions. Long-term effects may be more likely to appear. Resources developed for the models to support digital literacy among the aging population will be illustrated.

FAQs

Which older adult groups have the lowest technology use rates?

The lowest user rates occur among the oldest old and among older adults who are less affluent and less educated.

What is digital health literacy in this study?

Digital health literacy includes improving digital skills and increasing awareness of telehealth resources.

What are the three tested community strategies?

(1) Trained volunteer coaches visit home-delivered meal recipients for coaching; (2) coaches work at congregate meal sites and senior center programs; (3) local groups develop tailored approaches using freely shared manuals and videos.

Why didn’t loneliness and isolation improve significantly?

Results may require longer-term effects, and baseline loneliness/isolation scores were relatively positive, while intervention intensity was relatively low.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by James