International Day of Older Persons: Digital equity for all ages

While COVID-19 has affected nearly everyone worldwide, it has hit the elderly especially hard.

From higher mortality rates to more intense social isolation under lockdowns, older persons have experienced many forms of vulnerability, especially when it comes to using the technologies that have become essential in dealing with the adverse effects of the pandemic.

Today, as the countries mark the International Day of Older Persons, the United Nations has asked policy makers and citizens to address the transformational influence of digital technologies, including the potential benefits and risks for ageing and elderly people in all our communities.

This year’s theme for the annual occasion is “digital equity for all ages”.

“Our vision for the world is as a place where everyone can benefit from digital technologies and services, regardless of age, gender, income or any other factor,” says Malcolm Johnson, Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs).

As an international standards-making body, ITU calls for accessibility in ICTs from the design stage. This includes ease of use by older persons.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has underscored the need for digital technology uptake among all age groups − including older persons – to ensure new opportunities and benefits are available to everyone.

“The Decade of Healthy Ageing is connected to UN Sustainable Development Goals,” said Michael Hodin, CEO of the Global Coalition on Ageing.

“This is a big deal. It represents a mega-trend of ageing that we are witnessing globally.”

Access and inclusivity are vital to realize key goals for the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing.

Older users take up tech

The pandemic has underscored unequal access to technologies across and within populations, says Ambassador Mxolisi Nkosi, South Africa’s Permanent Representative to the UN and other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland.

Even so, “older people are beginning to engage with basic technologies at a much high rate than before,” he said at an ITU-hosted session of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) TalkX discussion series yesterday.

While COVID-19 has had a drastic effect on all of our lives, it has had a disproportionate effect on the elderly, agreed Ambassador Meirav Eilon Shahar, Permanent Representative of Israel in Geneva.

But digitization has helped reach the elderly and better assess their needs.

“The digital tools in my country and the digital health equity infrastructure has held a vital role during this pandemic,” she said.

Turning to telemedicine

Along with make life under lockdown more comfortable, digital tools can greatly empower hard-pressed caregivers.

WHO two years ago launched a digital app to help health and social workers provide better care for older people. The UN’s specialized health agency also provides guidance on implementing Integrated Care for Older People.

“We need to see how we can use technological solutions to support older people,” says Anshu Banerjee, Director for WHO’s Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing.

“During the pandemic we have seen a massive shift to telemedicine, and this is one of the fastest growing areas in artificial intelligence in long term care,” he added.

Despite rapid adoption of technologies, the world faces a deepening digital divide. While connectivity and tech-proficiency vary among countries and regions, they reveal gaps by socio-economic status, gender, and age.

“Digital inclusion for older people is essential to achieve the society that we want and make sure that nobody is left behind,” said Justin Derbyshire, CEO of HelpAge International, a non-governmental organization addressing aging in low- and middle-income countries.

E-health solutions adapted to older persons generate savings rather than cost increases, adds Jan Larsson, CEO of Business Sweden.

“Digital equity will help us reduce costs while also helping us to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and improve the quality of life of elderly persons.”

ITU, WHO and the Global Coalition on Ageing highlighted the central theme, “Digital inclusion and health equity for all ages”, at a WSIS TalkX yesterday. The recording is available here. The event also kicked-off the call for submissions for the WSIS Forum 2022 Healthy Ageing Innovation Prize.

The upcoming World Telecommunication & Information Society Day, celebrated on 17 May 2022, will keep the spotlight on digital technologies for healthy ageing.