Aging Connected: Closing the Connectivity Gap for Older Americans

OATS, in partnership with the Humana Foundation, for the first time quantifies the size and degree of the digital isolation crisis among seniors in the United States, finding nearly 22 million older Americans continue to lack broadband access at home. Key findings:

• Nearly 22 million American seniors do not have wireline broadband access at home, representing 42 percent of the nation’s over-65 population.
• More than 80% of COVID deaths in the U.S. have been older Americans. OATS estimates that approximately 40% of them were unable to access needed online resources from home during the pandemic.
• Technology is exacerbating social divisions and inequalities. OATS’ research found disturbing correlations between digital disengagement and race, disability, health status, educational attainment, immigration, rural residence, and income.
• A review of existing digital inclusion efforts targeting seniors found a hodgepodge of offerings, with large sections of the country served by no significant low-cost offerings or age-friendly initiatives. The programs that do exist are virtually all sponsored by telecommunications companies in collaboration with nonprofit partners, with no direct public sector support.
• Poor broadband not only limits access to essential public health information and social services, but can lead to risk of social isolation, which has been linked to negative health outcomes, reduced quality of life and premature death.
• Evidence shows that public-private partnerships can not only increase connectivity access, but also produce positive social outcomes as a result of increased digital engagement.