Keys to active ageing: new communication technologies and lifelong learning

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Educational Technology
• Public Health

Background:

• The elderly population faces challenges in digital literacy, impacting their quality of life.
• Active Participation Centers offer potential venues for targeted educational interventions.
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills are increasingly vital for social inclusion and well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement an ICT education program for individuals over 55 in Almería, Spain.
• To evaluate the program's impact on the quality of life of elderly participants.
• To identify demographic factors influencing program outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 200 participants aged 55 and above.
• Implementation of a 3-month ICT education program in Active Participation Centers.
• Assessment of quality of life using validated factors (health, leisure, life satisfaction) and comparison with a control group.

Main Results:

• High participant satisfaction rate of 76.6%.
• Statistically significant improvements in quality of life across health (p=0.004), leisure (p=0.001), and life satisfaction (p<0.001) factors.
• Younger age groups and males reported higher quality of life scores.

Conclusions:

• ICT education programs can effectively enhance the quality of life for older adults.
• The program's success suggests scalability to other regions and age groups.
• Further research should explore long-term effects and tailored interventions for diverse elderly populations.