[Rethinking digital aging-Theoretical and conceptual impulses for digitality education in advanced age]
Michael Doh1, Ines Himmelsbach2
1Professor für Digitale Transformation im Sozial- und Gesundheitswesen, Katholische Hochschule Freiburg, Karlstraße 63, 79104, Freiburg, Deutschland. michael.doh@kh-freiburg.de.
Background:
Digital transformation is increasingly shaping the lives of older adults. Progress in the use of digital services can also be observed in senior housing arrangements and long-term care facilities.
Objective:
This article discusses theoretical and conceptual approaches from gerontology, remedial education and educational science regarding the specificity of digitality in advanced age.
Material:
The reflections are based on case studies of two vulnerable women in advanced age from the DiBiWohn project which reveal developments in digitality.
Results:
Forms of digitality can also be found in geriatric care settings that go beyond compensatory functions for social and physical losses and demonstrate potential for forms of participation, relationship maintenance and transformative education.
Discussion:
Classical gerontological concepts tend to emphasize the deficit compensatory functions of technology. In contrast, perspectives from remedial education and educational science may offer impulses for aging research that also capture the potentials of digitality in advanced age.
Related Concept Videos
Health Literacy
Cognitive Development During Adulthood
Learning Disabilities
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
Social Foundations of Self IV: Self in Digital Communication
Language and Cognition
Information Processing Approach


