As the world becomes more technology dependent, most of us are feeling more connected than ever before. However, technological advances have a knack of passing the elderly by, leaving them feeling more isolated than ever. In fact, technology isolation is only a part of the loneliness problem faced by elderly citizens, especially those who live alone and have small social circles.

In this article, we’ll discuss how technology isolation compounds senior loneliness, while giving tips on how to combat the issue.

Statistics on senior technology adoption

Senior technology adoption in the US is surging, with smartphone ownership among over 50s rising from 55% in 2016 to 90% in 2025, according to the AARP. However, when you focus on 75 and overs, adoption of smartphones is significantly lower, hovering at around 47%, according to the National Library of Medicine.

Ownership is one thing, actually using the technology productively is another. In the same AARP survey, the organization found that people over 50 will use an average of 14 digital services across a three-month period. Shopping and online banking are among the most common services used.

Trust and approval are also major factors in technology adoption. As AARP has found, 66% of people aged over 50 believe that technology enriches life and simplifies the aging process. However, only 16% currently use chatbots, which are quickly overtaking customer service phone operators in many companies.

A lack of willingness to engage in this form of technology can leave older citizens feeling isolated, especially when they have a query.

Barriers to digital literacy for the elderly

Unlike the younger generations, the elderly haven’t grown up with anything resembling the technology of today. Smartphones, tablets, laptops, and more almost come as a second language to those under 40. However, for those over 65 technology stirs up feelings of confusion and fear.

Lack of capability and basic understanding

Even at the setup phase of a device, users are bombarded with unfamiliar terminology and jargon. This can be overwhelming, immediately putting an elderly person on the back foot. As a result, routine pop-ups and notifications, such as storage information or incoming messages, seem more daunting than helpful.

Mistrust

A lack of faith in their own ability and a vague understanding of the dangers of technology can cause elderly people to shy away from engaging with technology. Stories of scams on the news can lead them to believe that technology and the internet are more dangerous than they are rewarding.

This point of view is understandable, especially as scammers’ methods are becoming more sophisticated and believable.

Lack of confidence/willingness to learn

There is a common, and untrue, perception that older people are past the point of being able to learn new skills. The attitude that they were born in the wrong era, or that technology has simply passed them by, is a major barrier to overcome. A fear of mistakes is common with older people using technology, as they wrongly feel a simple misclick can result in a negative outcome.

There’s also stubbornness to contend with. A lot of elderly people are set in their ways, believing they’ve survived for long enough without technology and therefore don’t need it.

Not designed for elderly people

Navigating a device that isn’t designed with elderly people in mind can cause someone to give up prematurely too. Small fonts and tiny icons make it difficult for older people to find what they want on the device. Using a touch screen requires a level of technique and subtlety taken for granted by younger people.

Many old people will naturally try to press icons as though they are buttons, causing frustration when the device doesn’t do what they expected it to.

Training programmes that work

There are multiple resources, both online and in person, that offer detailed technology courses for the elderly. By attending a course taught by experts, elderly citizens will have access to high-quality information taught in a digestible, friendly manner.

Senior Planet (AARP): Senior Planet by AARP offers a selection of technology courses for elderly people in locations across the US. They also offer online classes for those who can’t travel to one of the organization’s locations.
Cyber-Seniors: The Cyber-Seniors program connects older people with young people, often of high school age, for one-to-one technology sessions. In this program, elderly people can learn how to use devices and the software within them, as well as how to bank online and access medication.
Local initiatives: Local libraries and community centers often run technology programs for elderly citizens. These tend to be face-to-face, which is ideal for hands-on learning, especially for absolute beginners.

Simplified devices and interfaces for seniors

While elderly people may struggle with technology, they are not incapable, especially when the technology has been designed with them in mind. Devices should be simplified, and interfaces should be easy to understand and navigate.

This is especially the case for technology relating to healthcare. For example, on a wearable monitoring device, the panic button should be clear to see and easy to activate. If not, it will only cause more panic and may prevent the monitoring team from administering help quickly enough.

If the device appears too complicated to use, the elderly person may resist wearing it, meaning they’ll lose access to features such as automatic fall detection. This puts their safety at risk, and diminishes peace of mind for families.

Family strategies for tech support

Preventing an elderly person from becoming isolated in a technological context may require an intervention from the person’s family. There are many ways you can go about this, but patience and understanding should remain at the forefront of your mind.

Take time and be patient

An elderly person struggling to perform tasks that most of us deem basic can be intensely frustrating. However, letting that frustration show will only cause the elderly person to lose confidence and become intimidated by the technology in front of them. Be sure not to rush them, instead running through everything slowly and in bite-sized chunks.

Start simple

There’s no point trying to explain complex technological actions to someone who hasn’t got a grip of the basics. And when we’re talking about basics, we mean the very basics. This includes teaching the elderly person how to turn the device on, and depending on the device, how to use the touchscreen.

For something like a SafeSure elderly monitoring device, explain clearly what each button does and highlight the features that are present on the device.

Don’t punish mistakes

Mistakes are all too common, especially when someone is getting to grips with a new skill. Make sure the elderly person is aware that they shouldn’t become disheartened by mistakes, especially when the consequences are minimal.

Eliminate fear

A lot of elderly people abstain from technology because they’re scared of breaking something. Eliminate this fear by explaining how devices are meant to withstand all sorts, whether that’s misclicks or physical damage.

Make technology simple for your elderly relative with SureSafe

Technology can be intimidating for the elderly, but with SureSafe, it doesn’t need to be. Our monitoring devices are built with ease-of-use in mind, as well as technical capability. So much so, they can be easily understood by technical novices in minutes.

If you’ve got any questions about our products and their features, contact us on 888 919 4472. You can also get in touch using our live chat, or request a call back from one of our experts.