JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The rapidly increasing role of the Internet in obtaining basic services challenges especially older adults’ possibilities to get the services they need. Research on the antecedents of older adults’ Internet use and digital competence is especially relevant given that people are living longer than before, and the age profile of many societies is changing rapidly.

Objective:

To examine the associations of objective measures of physical and cognitive impairment with the non-use of Internet for services and low digital competence among older adults.

Methods:

Longitudinal population-based design was used combining data from performance tests and self-rated questionnaires. Data were gathered in 2017 and 2020 among 1426 older adults between 70 and 100 years of age in Finland. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations.

Results:

We found that, poor near or distant vision, restricted or failed abduction of upper arms and poor results from word list memory or word list delayed recall tests predicted non-use of Internet for services and low digital competence. Moreover, poor results from chair stand test predicted low digital competence.

Conclusions:

According to our results older adults’ impaired physical and cognitive functioning may hamper their possibilities to reach Internet services such as digital health care services. Our results should be kept in mind when planning digital health care services which older adults are intended to use. Assistive and alternative solutions should be provided for older adults with impairments.