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A new national AARP survey finds Americans age 50-plus are leveraging more technology, both in their home and while on the go. And, while limited in acceptance, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) has doubled since last year. Still, some remain hesitant to fully embrace new technologies because of data privacy worries and lack of support geared toward older consumers.
Nearly two-thirds (66 percent) of respondents to the online survey of about 3,600 adults say technology enriches their lives by making daily life and aging easier. They’re increasingly using digital services to manage their finances, social lives and health and wellness.
Older Americans are welcoming technology to enable them to live in their home as long as possible and have peace of mind. More than 6 in 10 use some kind of smart device to help with security, utilities, appliances and lighting. About half (46 percent) have safety devices, such as alarms and door or drive cameras, and another 40 percent expressed interest in owning them.
Many adults 50-plus also recognize the benefits of health-related tech. Top digital services used for health and fitness include health-tracking apps (71 percent) and fitness classes (59 percent), as well as for medical, telemedicine, and mental health purposes, and games, books and hobbies.
Tech to support caregiving and health needs
For the 70 percent of older Americans who manage chronic health conditions and 27 percent of those over age 50 who are caregivers, advances in technology and digital services have made a significant difference. Health-specific digital services, such as emergency alert devices and telemedicine, are helping individuals monitor their health. Caregivers are embracing or are interested in GPS devices and motion sensors, along with digital services for food delivery, communication, shopping, and medical assistance as they manage their loved one’s situation.
Some digital services older adults use are free, while others have a cost. Some older Americans are willing to pay for these resources or tools.
Spending steady
Tech spending remains steady year over year among older adults, with 2024 showing a slight increase in ownership for primary devices. In the past 12 months, 67 percent of respondents report making a new tech purchase, spending on average about $753, compared to $798 in 2023. About 2 in 5 indicated they wanted to buy a tech product but decided not to because of financial pressure or inflation.
AI, privacy, and attitudes
Adults 50-plus possess an average of seven tech devices and report using them daily. The most prevalent: smartphone (owned by 91 percent), smart TV (78 percent), laptop computer or netbook (72 percent), tablet (62 percent), Bluetooth headset/ear buds (52 percent), desktop computer (50 percent), wearable device (38 percent) and home assistant (35 percent).
Smartphones continue to be the most common purchase, made by 26 percent of respondents, with most (62 percent) having upgraded their phones in the past two years. When it comes to apps for a fee, respondents are most likely to pay for video or movie streaming, music, fitness classes or smart home security.
The survey indicates AI is gaining traction and triggering some curiosity. Among older Americans, generative AI use has doubled from 9 percent in 2023 to 18 percent in 2024. Another 30 percent are excited about the potential benefit of AI. Respondents who have checked out generative AI are most often using free tools on an app or website; just 10 percent paid a fee. Those with some exposure to AI view it with more potential in terms of making life easier than nonusers, who are more hesitant to embrace the emerging technology.
Concern over data privacy is the biggest barrier to tech adoption, according to one-third of older Americans polled. Other barriers keeping people from engaging with new technology include ease of use (20 percent), set-up and support (19 percent), cost (16 percent) and awareness (12 percent).
Industry takeaways
As people age, AARP finds that older adults opt to try out products after they’ve been on the market for a while. Indeed, most older adults think technology is not designed with their age in mind, although that sentiment is down slightly from 2023. This year’s survey found that just 59 percent feel that way, compared to 64 percent in 2023.
Two-thirds (64 percent) of older adults believe they have the digital skills necessary to fully take advantage of being online. Respondents are very interested (71 percent of those 50-plus) in a tech support service that would be especially tailored to older users.
AARP recommends changes in product design, technical support, education, and awareness in the industry to better serve older consumers and close the adoption gap.
Methodology
The information was gathered from an online survey of 3,605 American adults in September 2024. The survey, which took about 23 minutes to complete, was available both in English and Spanish. The results were weighted according to demographics for U.S. adults ages 18-plus, 18–49 and 50-plus.
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Sometimes it feels as if your bereavement will never end. You feel as if youd give anything to have the pain go away; to have the long lonely hours between nightfall and dawn pass without heartache. You are not the only grieving person who has longed for some measure of relief.In the novel, My Sisters Keeper, author Jodi Picoult wrote, There should be a statute of limitations on grief. A rule book that says it is all right to wake up crying, but only for a month. That after 42 days you will no longer turn with your heart racing, certain you have heard her call out your name.No such rule book exists. Grief counselors and therapists tell us that the length of time it takes anyone to grieve the loss of someone they held dear to them is dependent on the situation, how attached you were to the deceased, how they died, your age and gender. So many variables exist and theres absolutely no way to predict how long it will take for you to adapt to your loss.The Difference Between Normal and Complicated GriefResearch findings have led experts to come up with many differing categories of grief experience ranging from normal to complicated. Normal (or uncomplicated) grief has no timeline and encompasses a range of feelings and behaviors common after loss such as bodily distress, guilt, hostility, preoccupation with the image of the deceased, and the inability to function as one had before the loss. All are normal and present us with profound, and seemingly endless, challenges. Yet, Katherine Walsh says, Over the course of time, with average social supportmost individuals will gradually experience a diminishment of these feelings, behaviors, and sensations. So, how can you know if your bereavement is no longer within the range of normal? Ms. Walsh goes on to say, While there is no definitive time period by which this happens, if an individual or members of a family continue to experience distress intensely or for a prolonged periodor even unexpectedly years after a lossthey may benefit from treatment for complicated grief.A Useful Model for Assessment: Wordens Four Tasks of MourningThere are certain tasks that, when achieved during your bereavement, can successfully allow you to emerge on the other side of loss as a better, stronger, and more resilient individual. James Worden proposed these four tasks: To accept the reality of the loss To process the pain of grief To adjust to a world without the deceased To find an enduring connection with the deceased in the midst of embarking on a new life Instead of focusing on your bodily discomforts, feelings, and common behaviors, this model allows you to better see where you may be stuck or stalled in the adaptive process. Fortunately, Worden also gives us a list of indicators advising that "any one of these clues in and of itself may not be sufficient" for a diagnosis of complicated grief. "However," he continues, "any of theseshould be taken seriously, and the diagnosis of complicated grief should be considered when they appear."12 Clues... 12 InsightsWhile grief educators and theorists tell us that a diagnosis of complicated grief should not even be attempted until after the first anniversary of the death, if any one of the following symptomatic clues exists for longer than six months, you may want to consider grief counseling or grief therapy: You cannot speak of the deceased without experiencing intense and fresh grief long after the loss. A relatively minor event triggers an intense grief reaction. Your conversations with others are littered with references to loss. In other words, loss is an ever-present motif in your world view. You have issues related to your loved one's possessions. Keeping everything the same as before their death could indicate trouble just as tossing out everything right away can also be a clue to disordered mourning. (You also need to factor in your cultural and religious background) You have developed physical symptoms similar to those of the deceased before their death. Sometimes these symptoms recur annually, on the anniversary of the death, or on holidays. An increased susceptibility to illness or the development of a chronic physical complaint can also be an indicator. If you have made radical changes to your lifestyle, or excluded friends, family members, or even activities associated with the deceased, it may indicate unresolved grief. A long history of depression, often marked by guilt or low self-esteem, can reveal disordered mourning. The opposite is also true: a person experiencing a false sense of happiness or elation could be experiencing unresolved grief. A compulsion to imitate the deceased, in personality or behavior, can be a sign of complicated mourning. Having self-destructive impulses or exhibiting self-destructive behaviors can be significant. These can range from substance abuse, engaging in self-harm, developing eating disorders and suicidal tendencies. A sense of unexplained sadness occurring at a certain time each year (holidays, anniversaries, or birthdays) can also be a clue to unresolved grief. Developing a strong fear about dying, especially when it relates to the illness that took the life of your loved one, is an important clue. If you have avoided visiting your loved one's grave or if you are still unwilling to discuss the circumstances of their death, this could indicate complications in your bereavement. There are many types of complicated grief; it can be delayed, masked, exaggerated, or chronic. Self-diagnosis is without purpose. A year after the death, if you feel your grief symptoms worsening, we advise that you seek a referral from your family physician for professional grief counseling or therapy.Sources: Walsh, Katherine, Grief and Loss: Theories and Skills for the Helping Professions, 2nd Edition, 2012 Worden, James, Grief Counseling & Grief Therapy: A Handbook for the Mental Health Practitioner, 4th Edition, 2009
Erick Montano has an extensive background in the creative industry, having worked in the visual effects sector from 2010 to 2014. His expertise contributed to blockbuster films such as The Avengers, Captain America: The First Avenger, Thor, Pompeii, and Anchorman 2, among others. Following his time in Los Angeles, Erick began applying his technical skills to help neighbors, family, and friends with various tech-related issues. His passion for technology and problem-solving naturally evolved into providing support and education for those around him.In 2014, Erick transitioned into the non-profit sector in Naples, FL, where he continues to contribute to various organizations. His work in non-profits has deepened his understanding of community needs, particularly recognizing the challenges seniors face with rapidly changing technology. This experience, coupled with his creative background, has shaped Ericks approach to tech educationfocusing on empathy, accessibility, and empowerment. Today, as the founder of TechKnowledgy Team, Erick is dedicated to helping seniors and others gain confidence in using technology, bridging the digital divide one lesson at a time.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the fast-paced world of technology?It can be frustrating to see how quickly devices and apps evolve, leaving you struggling to keep up. This frustration often leads to feeling disconnected and less confident in your ability to navigate the digital world. But it doesnt have to be this way. TechKnowledgy Team offers personalized tech education tailored to your pace, helping you confidently connect with loved ones and learn from the comfort of your home. Say goodbye to tech frustration and hello to a more connected and empowered life. Erick Montano has an extensive background in the creative industry, having worked in the visual effects sector from 2010 to 2014. His expertise contributed to blockbuster films such as The Avengers, Captain America: The First Avenger, Thor, Pompeii, and Anchorman 2, among others. Following his time in Los Angeles, Erick began applying his technical skills to help neighbors, family, and friends with various tech-related issues. His passion for technology and problem-solving naturally evolved into providing support and education for those around him.In 2014, Erick transitioned into the non-profit sector in Naples, FL, where he continues to contribute to various organizations. His work in non-profits has deepened his understanding of community needs, particularly recognizing the challenges seniors face with rapidly changing technology. This experience, coupled with his creative background, has shaped Ericks approach to tech educationfocusing on empathy, accessibility, and empowerment. Today, as the founder of TechKnowledgy Team, Erick is dedicated to helping seniors and others gain confidence in using technology, bridging the digital divide one lesson at a time.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the fast-paced world of technology?It can be frustrating to see how quickly devices and apps evolve, leaving you struggling to keep up. This frustration often leads to feeling disconnected and less confident in your ability to navigate the digital world. But it doesnt have to be this way. TechKnowledgy Team offers personalized tech education tailored to your pace, helping you confidently connect with loved ones and learn from the comfort of your home. Say goodbye to tech frustration and hello to a more connected and empowered life. Erick Montano has an extensive background in the creative industry, having worked in the visual effects sector from 2010 to 2014. His expertise contributed to blockbuster films such as The Avengers, Captain America: The First Avenger, Thor, Pompeii, and Anchorman 2, among others. Following his time in Los Angeles, Erick began applying his technical skills to help neighbors, family, and friends with various tech-related issues. His passion for technology and problem-solving naturally evolved into providing support and education for those around him.In 2014, Erick transitioned into the non-profit sector in Naples, FL, where he continues to contribute to various organizations. His work in non-profits has deepened his understanding of community needs, particularly recognizing the challenges seniors face with rapidly changing technology. This experience, coupled with his creative background, has shaped Ericks approach to tech educationfocusing on empathy, accessibility, and empowerment. Today, as the founder of TechKnowledgy Team, Erick is dedicated to helping seniors and others gain confidence in using technology, bridging the digital divide one lesson at a time.