Turn on the Computer, Turn off the Ageism: Empowering Older Adult Technology Use

Tech shouldn't be ageist

Posted on October 7, 2024 in Blog Posts

Authors:

Joseph Winberry
An elderly patron using technology at her library, free from ageism

Our world is getting older. Statistics from the US Census Bureau and the United Nations paint the same picture: people 65 and older are the fastest growing demographic in most countries across the globe. What does this mean for those working in libraries? It means that the patrons served may be older or caring for someone who is older. It means colleagues may be working happily and healthfully (or out of necessity) well beyond what we once saw as traditional retirement age. It also means changes that we cannot yet foresee. But one need already with us promises to grow alongside our aging population: the need to combat ageism.

Ashton Applewhite, author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism, defines ageism as stereotyping and discriminating against older people because they happen to be older. Part of the stigmatization is assuming that all older people are the same. One such stereotype is that older people do not like technology. While there are some older people who do not like technology (just like there are some younger people who feel the same), many studies indicate that older adults are interested in and excited by new technology. It is likely that readers of this column have or will help older adults engage with computers, tablets, smart phone apps, and AI tools. I offer three ideas for addressing ageism before and while you and an older patron engage technology together.

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1. Check yourself.

A simple Google search for “ageism test” retrieves numerous tools, such as the Harvard Implicit Association Test, which allows you to test your assumptions around age.  Getting a better understanding of your own thinking and behavior will provide you with some initial steps for how you can take a more age-positive approach with older people. Once you have these scores and details on areas for improvement, consider planning on how you can address your ageism. This is an important step that allows us an opportunity to be honest with ourselves and correct our own pitfalls before embarking on a learning journey with older users in the library.

2. Recognize that ageism can be—and often is—internalized by many people as they get older.

Consider how often you see people describe themselves (and others) as being 70, 80, or 90 years “young.” All of us age and will—if we are lucky—one day be “old.” While challenging the “aging is negative” narrative will take more than a few digital literacy sessions, research published by Hannah Barrie and colleagues has shown that internalized ageism can be a hurdle for older adults seeking to become better users of technology. For instance, older adults might compare their technology skills negatively in comparison to younger users. Other research on Geragogy—an approach to teaching which centers the needs of older adults—suggests that the teacher plays an important role in making older learners comfortable and confident. Working patiently with older patrons can make a considerable difference in their own learning experience.

3. Seek to make changes in the library profession to support older patrons.

Within the American Library Association, there are multiple efforts with differing goals and histories on addressing the needs of older adults. One of the most recent is the Elder Justice Task Force (EJTF). Part of the Social Responsibilities Round Table, the EJTF is bringing together library workers across differing positions and library types to recognize that more can be done to partner with older people to create a more equitable world for older patrons. While it is essential to check our own ageism and help older adults challenge their own through patient support, we can also work across our discipline to challenge ageism at a larger level. Through the EJTF, a diverse group in the broader library world—including this author—seeks to challenge how older adults are represented and included in ALA and beyond. This is accomplished by presenting at association events, showcasing resources, building community, and offering training with and around older adults. Whether through the EJTF or some other venue, consider how you might contribute to combating ageism in your library and across the field.

Like all age groups, the health and well-being of older adults runs across the full spectrum of the human experience and are complex in their makeup. Among the many lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic is the importance of technology in supporting social connectedness moving forward. We can have enormous impact by challenging personal, social, and structural ageism through age-positive interactions with older adults in our libraries, communities, and professional organizations. Doing so will prepare us to be the best support and allies we can be for older adults in the present and in our own futures.

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