Indian Journal of Health and Well-being 2024, 15(Special Issue), 70-74 © 2024 Indian Association of Health, Research and

024 Indian Association of Health, Research and Welfare

Peer-reviewed and Indexed Journal ISSN-p-2229-5356,e-2321-3698
[Link] NAAS Rating 4.11

Digital Aging: Policy Frameworks for Enhancing Elderly

Quality of Life with Technology as a Key Mediator
Ananya Chowdhary, Palak Aggarwal, and Tanu
Department of Applied Psychology, Vivekananda College, University of Delhi, Delhi

In the rapidly evolving times, there has been much involvement of older adults with social media, however little
research has been done to provide the linkage between their quality of life and the digital technology they use. While
digital technology and media have the potential to enhance the quality of life for the elderly through increased
communication, access to services, connection to their loved ones and mental stimulation, their effects remain
uneven, particularly in developing countries like India. This study explores the intersection between the quality of
life as well as the well-being of older adults with that of social media and technology in the Delhi-NCR region. A
mixed method approach was used in this study, surveying 40 participants from middle to high socio-economic
background, fluent in either Hindi or English, to explore their levels of digital literacy, usage patterns, and
perceptions of the effect that digital technology and media have on various aspects of their quality of life, including
mental well-being, social engagement, autonomy, and access to essential services. A combination of closed and
open-ended questions were used to acquire quantitative as well as qualitative data for the same. Preliminary
findings were used to formulate several policy recommendations. By understanding the psychological challenges
faced by the elderly and integrating the voice of older adults in this newly digital world, this research aims to
establish a framework for developing digital policies that enhance the quality of life for the older adults.

Keywords: quality of life, digital technology, older adults, policy recommendations

Basic Concepts being are explored by delving into questions about how connected
they feel with family and others due to technology and social media.
What is Quality of Life These domains affect the quality of life in the following ways.
The World Health Organization defines Quality of Life as “an Digital Access and Literacy: Elderly individuals' ability to access
individual's perception of their position in life in the context of the and use new information and communication technologies can have
culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their a profound effect on their quality of life. As the WHO's qualitative
goals, expectations, standards and concerns” (WHO, 1995). pilot study found, facets related to "acquiring new information and
Quality of life is measured from the participant's perspective since skills" are crucial for maintaining a sense of engagement and
it is a subjective construct. Its multidimensionality requires the connection with the world. However, barriers to digital inclusion,
investigator to explore a wide range of domains including physical such as lack of access or digital literacy skills, can severely limit
well-being, functional ability, emotional well-being, and social well- elderly individuals' capacity to acquire information, participate in
being (Cella, 1994). online social activities, and access vital healthcare and social
In this paper, we have covered the areas of physical well-being by services. Implementing policies and programs to improve digital
seeing how health apps and apps that deliver medications make access and literacy for the elderly is crucial to ensuring they can fully
healthcare more accessible for the elderly. Furthermore, the safety engage with the digital world and maintain a sense of being "in
provided by digital technology is also analyzed. Functional ability is touch" with their environment.
seen as how independent technology makes them feel and how much Health and Independence (Domain III: Level of Independence,
accessibility they have to it. Effects on social and emotional well- Domain II: Psychological): As the WHOQOL-100 framework
highlights, physical and cognitive health, as well as the ability to
Author Note perform daily living activities independently, are key determinants
Ananya Chowdhary, Department of Applied Psychology of quality of life. As physical and cognitive health declines in old
Vivekananda College, University of Delhi, Delhi age, many elderly individuals experience reduced mobility,
Palak Aggarwal, Department of Applied Psychology, Vivekananda difficulties with daily living activities, and an overall loss of
College, University of Delhi, Delhi independence. This can negatively impact their psychological well-
E-mail: aggarwalpalak271@[Link] being, self-esteem, and overall quality of life. Policies and
Tanu, Department of Applied Psychology, Vivekananda College technologies that promote healthy aging and provide assistive tools
University of Delhi, Delhi can be instrumental in helping the elderly maintain their
E-mail: tanutomar322@[Link] independence and sense of self-worth.
We have no known conflict of interest to disclose Social Engagement and Emotional Well-being (Domain IV: Social
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Relationships, Domain II: Psychological): The WHOQOL-100
Ananya Chowdhary, Department of Applied Psychology framework emphasizes the importance of social relationships and
Vivekananda College, University of Delhi, Delhi emotional well-being for overall quality of life. Reduced social
E-mail: ananyachowdhary06@[Link] connections and support networks in old age often lead to loneliness,
71 Indian Journal of Health and Well-being 2024, 2024, 15(Special Issue), 70-74

which can in turn have a detrimental effect on psychological health Measure Used: Interview Designed by Students
and quality of life. Digital technologies that facilitate social
Background: The Structured Interview was based on the dimensions
engagement, communication, and emotional support could be
covered in World Health Organization Quality of Life scale (WHO-
valuable in mitigating these challenges and fostering a greater sense
QOL, 2010) considering the dimensions that can be affected by
of belonging and well-being among the elderly.
digital media and technology. It mostly consisted of close ended
Safety and Security (Domain V: Environment): The WHOQOL-100 questions and is given below.
framework also recognizes the significance of the physical
environment, including factors like safety and security, in Digital Literacy and Access
determining quality of life. Elderly individuals may face increased ● Do you know how to use your touchscreen mobile phone
concerns about physical safety, security, and access to quality effectively?
healthcare, all of which can impact their quality of life. Policies and
○ Yes
technologies that enhance home and community safety, as well as
○ No
improve access to healthcare services, can play a crucial role in
addressing these concerns and improving overall quality of life for ○ Some apps
the elderly. As we explore the role of technology in enhancing quality ● What challenges do you face when using digital devices?
of life for the elderly, it's important to consider how key domains ○ Difficulty understanding how to use certain apps
from the WHOQOL-100 framework can impact their experiences. ○ Trouble reading the screen
These domains provide a holistic lens for understanding the ○ Confusion with settings or updates
multifaceted nature of quality of life in old age. ○ No challenges

Review of Studies ○ Other: ___________

● What kind of digital devices do you use, and how often?
Khalaila and Vitman-Schorr (2017) conducted a study to explore
○ Smartphone (Daily / Weekly / Rarely / Never)
direct and indirect effects of technology on quality of life. For this
○ Laptop (Daily / Weekly / Rarely / Never)
purpose, they interviewed a sample of 502 respondents aged 50 and
above, living in Northern Israel. Through directional correlation, it ○ Tablet (Daily / Weekly / Rarely / Never)
was found that internet use was positively associated with quality of ○ Other: ________ (Daily / Weekly / Rarely / Never)
life. However, this relationship was mediated by loneliness and ● Do you feel that with proper training, you could use technology
moderated by the time the elderly spent with family members. better?
Tadeu et al. (2020) conducted a study with the objective of ○ Yes
analyzing the effect of Internet use on mood, in a sample consisting ○ No
of 654 students of the Classroom of Experience of the University of ○ May be
Seville. For this, a reduced version of Yesavage's Geriatric ● What kind of support would help you use digital devices better?
Depression Scale (GDS) was used and socio-demographic data were
collected, related to personal situation, physical activity practice and Health and Independence
Internet use through a questionnaire designed ad hoc. After ● Do you use any apps or devices to monitor your health (e.g.,
performing a descriptive and correlation analysis of the data, it was fitness trackers, telemedicine services)? What benefits or
found that the variety of uses made of the internet correlates challenges have you experienced? (SE)
significantly, negatively, with the number of responses that indicate
● Have apps that deliver medications to your doorstep made things
depression on the GDS scale (p <0.001). Internet applications that
easier for you?
are associated with better levels of psychological well being are
○ Yes, very much
using the Internet to read press, watch videos on YouTube and
participate in social networks. ○ Yes, somewhat

In another study by Su-Kyoung et al. (2019) the purpose was to ○ No, I prefer getting medications another way
examine the relationship between the access level of digital ○ No, I don't use such apps
information service and life satisfaction level of the middle and high- ● Do you think apps like Amazon or Blinkit are making life easier
aged people. 1,491 seniors responded to the 2018 digital information for you in managing household items?
gap survey. This study confirmed that there is a statistically ○ Yes, they are very helpful
significant relationship between the access levels of digital ○ Yes, but I don't use them often
information service and life satisfaction. ○ No, I prefer shopping in person

Method ○ No, I find them difficult to use

Social Engagement and Emotional Well-being

Participants
● How does technology help you connect with your family
The participants were 50-65 years old (average age of 55 years)
○ I regularly call or message my family
elderly individuals, living in urban Delhi and had adequate
knowledge of English or Hindi. The sample size consisted of 40 ○ I sometimes call or message my family
participants (27 males & 13 females) was chosen by purposive ○ I rarely use my phone to connect with family
sampling. ○ I don't use my phone for family communication
 CHOWDHARY ET AL./DIGITAL AGING: POLICY FRAMEWORKS FOR ENHANCING 72

● How does looking at social media profiles of people you used to backgrounds were selected through purposive sampling.
know make you feel Participants were chosen based on their ability to fluently
○ lonely or b) connected? communicate in either Hindi or English and their access to digital
(If chosen connected) Do you feel that using technology helps you technology. This criterion ensured that the individuals had sufficient
feel less lonely or isolated? In what ways has it affected your sense of exposure to digital tools and media to reflect on their impact.
social connection? (SE) Although the sample size is relatively small, it allowed for in-depth
exploration within the chosen demographic. Future studies may
Safety and Security expand on these findings by involving larger and more diverse
● What do you think about CCTV cameras and technology installed populations.
everywhere? Do you feel safer with these technologies in place? Data Collection
(SE)
● Do you think GPS systems or Google Maps have made travel A structured survey was designed to collect data on participants'
easier for you? digital literacy, usage patterns, and perceptions of technology's
effects on their quality of life. This included their access to social
○ Yes, they are very helpful
media, digital devices, and services, as well as frequency of use and
○ Yes, but I rarely use them perceived benefits or drawbacks. The combination of closed-ended
○ No, I don't find them useful questions (for statistical analysis) and open-ended questions (to
○ No, I don't use them gather personal insights) ensured a balance of measurable data and
rich qualitative feedback. The study also considered participants'
Autonomy and Independence
subjective experiences to understand how digital technology affects
● Has using technology made you feel more independent in your various aspects of their lives, including mental well-being, social
daily life? For example, are you able to manage tasks like paying engagement, autonomy, and access to essential services.
bills or shopping online on your own?
○ Yes, I do it independently
Data Analysis
○ Yes, but I need help sometimes Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participants' digital
○ No, I need help with most tasks usage patterns, including frequency of social media engagement,
device usage, and access to digital services.
○ No, I don't use technology for these tasks

Impact on Quality of Life Limitations

The study's primary limitation is its relatively small and
● Do you think technology has improved your overall quality of
homogeneous sample, which focuses on participants from middle-
life? Are there any frustrations or concerns you have about using
to high-socioeconomic backgrounds. This may limit the
technology? (SE)
generalizability of the findings to older adults from lower
● Does technology bring back memories from your past?
socioeconomic backgrounds or those with limited digital access.
Yes / No Additionally, the participants' fluency in Hindi or English may have
○ (If “yes”) How does this remembrance make you feel? Do these influenced their comfort with digital tools, introducing a potential
moments bring happiness or sadness? (SE) bias in the results.
Policy Recommendations Further research involving a larger and more diverse sample is
recommended to provide a more comprehensive view of the effects
● What changes or improvements do you think are needed to make
of digital technology on the quality of life across different
technology more accessible or useful for older adults like
socioeconomic groups.
yourself? (SE) If you could suggest any improvements to services
or devices, what would they be? Ethical Considerations
Precautions The study followed ethical guidelines, ensuring informed consent
from all participants. Confidentiality was maintained, and participants
● No noise
were informed of their right to withdraw from the study at any time.
● No time limit but encouraged the first natural response
● Rapport should be properly formed Results
Method The primary objective of this study was to specify how the use of
digital technology led to changes in the quality of life of older adults
This study examined the relationship between digital technology, and formulate policy perspectives for the same. In detail, we aimed
social media usage, and the quality of life of older adults in the Delhi- to measure changes in their connectedness, their knowledge of
NCR region. A combination of close-ended and open-ended digital technology, and how it helps or doesn't help them. The study
questions was used to gather data, ensuring a comprehensive gathered data through a semi-structured questionnaire with both
understanding of both the statistical trends and personal experiences open-ended and closed-ended questions. We took the data of 40
of the participants. older adults in the Delhi-NCR region of middle-high socio-
economic status and the medium of the survey was in both Hindi and
Participants
English. The participants ranged in age from 50 to 65 years and had
A total of 40 participants from middle- to high-socioeconomic varying levels of understanding of digital technologies.
73 Indian Journal of Health and Well-being 2024, 2024, 15(Special Issue), 70-74

The analysis of the data provided some great insight into the quality family. However, 32.5% (13/40) said they still felt dependent on
of life of these older adults related to technological advancements. younger family members for help with more complex technological
The key areas covered are digital literacy, device usage, health, and tasks.
social engagement. Some respondents (15%, 6/40) expressed concern over how
technology is affecting younger generations, with reduced face-to-
Digital Literacy and Device Usage
face interaction and quality family time being mentioned frequently.
On the discussion of digital literacy, 85% (34/40) of respondents
referred to smartphones as their primary device, meanwhile (10%, Impact on Quality of Life
4/40) used laptops, and only 5% were using smartwatches daily. In In total, 62.5% (25/40) of respondents reported that technology has
the next question, however, 72.5% (29/40) responded that it was positively impacted their overall quality of life, making tasks easier,
difficult to adapt to app functionalities, settings, and updates. enhancing social connections, and improving safety. However,
Interestingly, 60% (24/40) of the participants felt that additional 37.5% (15/40) said that while technology has improved certain
training on app features and usage would help them in their daily life, aspects of their life, it also comes with negative consequences, such
while 35% (14/40) felt they had a good understanding of the as a loss of in-person interactions or time wasted on devices.
technology they use and didn't need further help. Nostalgia, in particular, was an interesting finding. 45% (18/40)
of respondents mentioned that technology, like looking at old photos
Health and Independence
or listening to old songs, evoked feelings of happiness and sadness,
On the topic of health-related apps, we found that 75% (30/40) of connecting them with their past. However, 55% (22/40) did not find
respondents do not use health tracking or monitoring apps, due to technology significantly tied to their memories, either because they
either a lack of knowledge on how to use them, or their trust in the hadn't engaged with those features or didn't find it emotionally
technology. Only 25% (10/40) have used apps like HealthifyMe to impactful.
track their steps or monitor their heart rate, and they found it
motivating. Challenges and Suggestions
Similarly, medicine delivery apps are not at all widely used, with Overall, 72.5% (29/40) of participants felt that while they
70% (28/40) going for traditional methods like in-person pharmacy appreciated the convenience of technology, it was still complex to
visits, while 30% (12/40) find these apps useful for delivering use, particularly when it came to apps, updates, and settings. Many
medications. suggested the need for more training programs, specifically
65% (26/40) of respondents use grocery delivery apps like Blinkit designed for older adults. 15% (6/40) of respondents even
and Amazon, while also mentioning the convenience of these apps, mentioned that guiding videos or one comprehensive app that could
however 10% (4/40) raised concerns about becoming too reliant on perform multiple functions would be helpful.
these services.
Policy Suggestions
Social Engagement and Emotional Well-being
Promote Digital Literacy Programs
In terms of staying connected with family and friends, 92.5% (37/40)
mentioned using WhatsApp or phone calls as their primary means of To overcome the obstacles older adults encounter when using
communication. However, when it comes to social media platforms technology, it is necessary to introduce thorough digital literacy
like Facebook, the opinions were split: 40% (16/40) felt that social programs. These programs should prioritize making essential
media helped them stay connected, while 20% (8/40) said it made applications, like communication and health management tools,
them feel more isolated or even jealous when comparing themselves easier to use for older individuals, taking into account their cognitive
to others. and psychological needs. Research indicates that formal training
Interestingly, 37.5% (15/40) of respondents admitted that improves both skill development and self-belief, essential for
although technology helped them connect with loved ones, it also gaining confidence in technology use (Nand et al., 2021).
contributed to a feeling of loneliness, especially with younger family Encourage Community Engagement
members being more engaged with their own devices.
Efforts promoting community involvement can help alleviate the
Safety and Security isolation often worsened by technology. Older adults can enhance
Regarding safety, 80% (32/40) of respondents felt that CCTV social bonds and learning by engaging in tech-based community
cameras in their homes or neighborhoods provided a sense of centers or clubs that promote collaborative technology use
security, while 20% (8/40) expressed concerns over privacy invasion (Chauhan et al., 2023). This method is consistent with the
or the effectiveness of the cameras. psychological concept of social learning, which involves acquiring
knowledge by watching and joining in activities within a group.
Google Maps was considered helpful by 75% (30/40) of
participants, with most of them using it for navigation. However, Integrate Mental Health Support
12.5% (5/40) found it confusing, and 12.5% (5/40) didn't use it at all,
Incorporating mental health assistance into technology programs is
relying instead on traditional navigation methods.
crucial due to the emotional effects technology has on elderly
Autonomy and Independence individuals, like loneliness and feelings of inferiority. Offering
counseling services aimed at addressing emotional difficulties
In terms of independence, 67.5% (27/40) of respondents felt more
related to technology use can enhance the general mental health of
independent thanks to technology, as it allowed them to manage tasks
individuals (Sharma & Kumar, 2022). Government efforts may also
like online banking, grocery shopping, or staying connected with
 CHOWDHARY ET AL./DIGITAL AGING: POLICY FRAMEWORKS FOR ENHANCING 74

consist of mental health awareness drives aimed at older belonging, which are essential for the psychological well-being of
demographics to promote the use of mental health services. older adults (Verma et al., 2023).
By prioritizing these diverse policy recommendations, we can
Enhance Accessibility Features
improve the technological environment for elderly individuals,
Developers need to make accessibility features a top priority in apps ultimately elevating their quality of life by taking into account their
and devices to cater to the cognitive and physical restrictions of emotional and social requirements.
elderly users. Simplified interfaces, voice commands, and larger text
options are features that can greatly improve usability, as stated by Conclusion
Saha and Roy in 2022. Policymakers need to work together with tech
In an increasingly digital world, the integration of technology into
companies to establish consistent accessibility features across
the lives of older adults has the potential to improve their quality of
different platforms, guaranteeing that technology effectively
life, particularly in terms of social engagement, autonomy, and
benefits all users.
mental well-being. This study sheds light on the diverse ways in
Leverage Government Policies which technology affects the elderly in the Delhi-NCR region,
highlighting both opportunities and challenges. By examining
Current government policies targeting older adults' quality of life
digital literacy, usage patterns, and perceptions, the research paves
should be broadened to encompass access to and technology
the way for creating inclusive digital policies that cater to the unique
training. Efforts like the National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM)
needs of older adults. Future research should continue to expand on
can be customized to pay more attention to elderly individuals,
these findings, with larger samples and more focus on low-income
guaranteeing that they are provided with specific training
populations to ensure equitable access to the benefits of
(Government of India, 2021). Moreover, encouraging technology
digitalization.
companies to develop products that are suitable for all ages can
support the government's goal of promoting inclusive economic References
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