Digital Literacy Among Elderly People and Usage of Digital Means

Abstract

India is the second largest and fast-growing country in the world. As citizens grow old the problems of health care, nutrition, loneliness, isolation increase. Along with the physical and other social problems the one problem many senior citizens are facing in using technology. While the government’s National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM) aims to empower at least one person per household with crucial digital literacy skills by 2020, the elderly population seems to be missing from the plan. With computerization or digitalization of almost all basic services and facilities, digital literacy has become need of the hour especially for the elderly population. Studies have shown that digital literacy can be a boon for older persons, particularly for those who live alone, who live away from their children/grandchildren, live with mobility constraints and want to live independently in old age. Keeping this in mind, a study has been taken up to explore the perception of elderly   people regarding use of digital technology. The aim of the study is to explore knowledge of elderly people towards the use of digital technology. A survey was conducted with the sample of 115 participants residing in central areas of Mumbai city. Purposive and snow ball sampling technique was adopted for the study. A self-constructed tool was used and the survey was carried out through face-to-face interviewing senior citizens using semi structured questionnaire. The participants express that digital technology is a good thing for today’s world in every field. Many of them are also aware about various apps and modes of the digital technology and show their willingness to adopt them. The study also observed that despite limitations due to age and motor skills, there is a keen desire among older persons to keep them connected with the new world, ruled by internet and information technology