Investing in digital literacy to improve the health of older Americans – Nonprofit News

In June 2023, the Biden administration announced that it would invest $42.45 billion in funding to connect all Americans to high-speed internet. This funding, available as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), gives all states and U.S. territories the opportunity to invest in high-speed broadband infrastructure through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program (BEAD). Masu. This historic and important investment will make significant progress in closing the digital capital divide, especially in underserved and underserved communities.

Among underserved populations, older adults stand out as one of the largest demographics without access to the internet. One in four U.S. adults lacks broadband at home, but 42 percent of older adults, or about 22 million people age 65 and older, do not have broadband access at home, according to a study by the Humana Foundation and AARP's Aging Technology Services (OATS). It turns out that broadband is available. There is no home-based internet. Many people who use the Internet have unstable or slow connections, making it impossible to use the Internet reliably. In particular, this disparity is most pronounced among lower-income, Black and Latino older adults, who are far more likely to be offline than the general population.

The physical isolation imposed at the height of the pandemic brought new attention to the risks of social isolation and loneliness, which had reached epidemic proportions long before the pandemic.

Connectivity is an important first step towards digital equity, but digital literacy training is essential to making internet access convenient for people who cannot go online regularly. To that end, the Digital Equity Act (DEA), also part of IIJA, funds community-centered programs that provide digital skills training and preparedness to underserved populations. Both state agencies and local organizations can apply for and receive funding for digital inclusion initiatives under the DEA for the next five years. As plans are developed, it is important that older adults and the nonprofits and charities representing underserved older adults have a seat at the table.

health and connection

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has exposed the depth and danger of this country's digital divide. Lack of access or lack of appropriate digital literacy and skills was potentially life-threatening. The Internet not only serves as a lifeline for accessing medical and government services, managing finances, ordering groceries, and other important tasks, but it has also become a primary means of social participation.

The physical isolation imposed at the height of the pandemic brought new attention to the risks of social isolation and loneliness, which had reached epidemic proportions long before the pandemic. Older people are particularly affected, with one in four feeling socially isolated and more than four in 10 feeling lonely. Both pose serious public health risks, according to the CDC. Social isolation significantly increases the chance of premature death and is associated with a 50% increased risk of dementia, while loneliness causes increased rates of depression, anxiety and suicide. In fact, social isolation has a similar effect on mortality as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.

Closing the digital divide requires giving older adults the skills and confidence to use the internet effectively.

As COVID-19 has shown, online engagement is critical to combating social isolation and loneliness. Research shows that as older adults' frequency of online activity increases, their sense of connection also increases and their feelings of isolation decrease. Increased use of social technology is also a predictor of lower loneliness rates and improved physical and mental health. Internet access is therefore essential not only for digital equity issues, but also for health equity.

Examples of digital literacy training

Investing in broadband infrastructure to provide access to underserved communities is a critical first step in connecting those who have traditionally been excluded. However, this is just the beginning of what is needed to meaningfully introduce and utilize high-speed internet services, especially to improve social participation and health among older adults.

Closing the digital divide requires giving older adults the skills and confidence to use the internet effectively. His multi-year partnership with OATS and the Humana Foundation to develop evidence-based digital literacy training and support models for older adults shows the impact these programs have on better connectivity, health, and well-being. .

In the midst of the pandemic, a public-private partnership was formed to provide internet connectivity, devices, training, and support to 10,000 low-income seniors living in New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) apartments, with OATS providing training and a hotline. is supported through AARP's flagship program Senior Planet.

Training was extensive and age-appropriate and delivered by qualified trainers. Participants met twice a week for five weeks in Zoom classes on topics such as online navigation, Gmail basics, internet safety, and managing device settings. New skills were linked to real-world applications in social engagement, health, financial security, and other areas important to older learners.

A follow-up study conducted by OATS in collaboration with Cornell University researcher Erin York-Cornwell was published in the report. Fly like an eagle: Measuring transformative social outcomes for older adults using technologyfound:

• Those who participated in this online training program were twice as likely as those who did not participate to report making new social connections through online platforms.
• 60% report joining a new social event or group, more than twice as many as those without training
• Participants who received the training were approximately half as likely to experience worsening of depressive symptoms, and more than half of the participants who received the training reported feeling lonely less frequently after the program, at a higher rate than the control group. was also 20% higher.

While important initiatives like NYCHA programs have involved thousands of seniors, digital literacy programs for seniors have been operating on a smaller scale throughout the United States during the pandemic. Many of these efforts have been made possible through funding from foundations that have created homegrown models and advanced experience and evidence on best practices.

One such program was developed in North Conway, New Hampshire. There, his $10,000 rapid response grant from the Tufts Health Plan Foundation allowed the Gibson Senior Services Center and its public library to continue serving seniors isolated by pandemic closures. The devices were provided with training in basic digital skills with a focus on social connections. The program's success spread to nearby towns and led to his $15,000 National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant for the All of Us Community Award for Health Programming to promote the use of telemedicine. The grant was used to create his four-part series on telehealth-related topics, purchase 30 Chromebook laptops, and install privacy booths in the library and Gibson Center for telehealth visits. .

Promoting digital literacy

As DEA plans are developed and funding is distributed, nonprofits and philanthropic organizations can play a role in developing effective and sustainable digital literacy programs. In our experience, there are several key elements to a successful program.

• They are culturally competent – ​​community-based engagement is key here
• Address the physical and cognitive challenges older adults may face when learning digital skills
• They meet older adults where they naturally spend time and are appropriate for their skill level, such as senior centers, libraries, and places of worship, and provide ongoing support.
• Program effectiveness is systematically measured and modified based on results

The experience and expertise that charities have gained in an all-remote environment during the pandemic will be invaluable in helping states innovate and make the most of existing resources. Although it was a more difficult era to adapt to than other eras, it promoted accessibility for all rather than some. Now, as we move forward, we have to continue to maintain that accessibility. Federal funds expire in five years, allowing philanthropic foundations to expand the scope of funded programs and continue their good work into the future.

Nonprofits and philanthropic organizations working to close the digital divide should seize this historic opportunity to overcome the barriers that keep underserved older adults offline. As daily life increasingly takes place online, no matter how fast or reliable broadband services are, those who lack the digital literacy, skills, and confidence to use it meaningfully are unable to engage with the world around them. will not be possible. For older people who are at high risk of isolation and loneliness, providing them with the connectivity and digital skills they need to access social interaction, information, services and activities is essential to their independence and well-being.