Communication and Information

Healthy Active Ageing: Communication and Information

Communication and Information


An inclusive society allows older people to stay connected with events, news and activities, with timely and accessible information that enables them to be both technologically and socially included.


Digital literacy skills


Access to information and enabling communication is a crucial determinant of an age-friendly environment. The Australian Government defines Digital Citizenship as the "confident and positive engagement with digital technology”. Accordingly, ”... a digital citizen is a person with the skills and knowledge to effectively use digital technologies to participate in society, communicate with others and create and consume digital content." Digital literacy can be defined as the skills, knowledge and understanding required to use technology and new media [48]. The social and economic consequences of the relative disadvantage experienced by older Australians in using the Internet has led the Age Discrimination Commissioner to characterise this disadvantage as a form of age discrimination. In addition to helping maintain social connections for wellbeing, digital literacy has been identified as fundamental to a person's agency and ability to make informed decisions about health and their environment [106]. Digital literacy can impact on wayfinding, use of public transport and equitable access to services and daily needs for older people. 


eHealth literacy


Recent research highlights the importance of digital literacy, in particular eHealth literacy, to the health and wellbeing of older people [69] [75] [110]. The digital citizenship and digital literacy needs of older people are now an integral part of our 'digital by default' world, where services and information are increasingly delivered online, including related to physical activity.


Digital social networks


Digital technology is also increasingly important to social connection and support. While social networks are now recognised as playing an important role in successful ageing in place, there remains a common assumption that such social networks must necessarily be comprised of people living in close proximity [112]. What is less commonly acknowledged is that information and communication technologies (ICTs) have transformed the nature of social networks and enhanced the capacity to participate in social groups and activities at a distance [11]. Online platforms now enable a diverse range of opportunities for social engagement and social interactions at a distance. They support 'social networks of interpersonal ties that provide sociability, support, information, a sense of belonging and social identity' [95] [75], all of which are important to and can facilitate engagement in physical activity.


Regional and rural digital connections


Given that the vast majority of Australians live in urban centres characterised by urban sprawl, as well as the vast distances that separate regional, rural and remote centres, the challenges of social isolation and loneliness, as well as access to transport, are particularly critical issues of relevance to Healthy Active Ageing in Australia. The use of digital communication technologies to support social connection across distance, and opportunities to engage in guided physical activity online, are particularly important in contexts of social distancing, such as during infection outbreaks in residential care that require lockdown [10].


Transnational social networks


In general, there is a lack of awareness of the role of distant and migrant support networks in the lives of older people: in particular, those from CaLD backgrounds who often have close family members living long distances away, but who remain essential sources of emotional and moral support. A growing body of research has identified that transnational support networks of older migrants remain insufficiently recognised in migration, health and aged care policies [11].



Town planners and urban designers should ensure suitable and affordable infrastructure is available in all communities to provide these digital-enabled connections.

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