The elderly and digitisation

The purpose of this report is to gain greater understanding and insight into what characterises use of IT among people over the age of 58 years-old in Denmark. The report describes use by elderly Danes of IT, and it analyses benefits experienced from using digital solutions. It also analyses the barriers and challenges encountered when communicating with public authorities through a digital solution. The report shows that the majority of elderly Danes have access to IT and that they use it diligently. The report shows that, like the rest of the population, elderly Danes are a very mixed group in terms of IT use. Generally, motivation and experience with using IT and digital solutions are crucial factors in explaining the elderly's use of IT. The report shows that experience with IT generally leads to more use of IT. However, attitudes are also important: the elderly who use IT also criticise public digital solutions. Many elderly people consider losing personal contact with the authorities as a disadvantage.