Is Age Just a Number, or a Challenge to Widespread HIT Adoption?

I was interviewed for a recent article in Becker’s Hospital Review that explores the common belief that older adults have more difficulty accepting and using technology. It includes some great comments about “digital natives” and “digital immigrants” by the other interviewees.

Speaking for myself, as a late Boomer, I can say that I certainly am a digital immigrant who has embraced technologies as I have found value to my work and life. And, I believe that this applies to older adults in general. There are differences in the generations and the oldest may need the most convincing and support, but it isn’t that they can’t incorporate technology into their daily life.

I remember older adults thinking it was a bit silly for people to carry around a cell phone. But, once they began to realize value – they feel safer because they can call for help — then older adults start using the technology just as anyone else. If I’m correct, I also I believe this is how telephone adoption went. It took a long time for it to catch on and for people to find value in the technology.

Health IT is just one more advancement that needs to progress through the adoption cycle.