ArticleJournal of medical Internet research2026
Changing Technology Use, Confidence, and Support Needs Among Older Adults in United Kingdom Retirement Villages: Mixed Methods Study.
Article in Journal of medical Internet research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
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Abstract
Background: Assistive technologies can support independent living among older adults, helping manage health and maintain independence, but uptake is often constrained by attitudes, confidence, and socioeconomic factors. The COVID-19 lockdowns accelerated technology use across all age groups, offering a natural experiment to examine changes in adoption. Objective: This study aimed to examine changing patterns of technology use in older adults, to provide insight as to how service providers can support the use of technology to enhance resident independence and well-being. Methods: Two cross-sectional surveys were conducted in United Kingdom retirement villages operated by a single housing provider, one immediately before the pandemic (2020, n=1707 across 19 sites) and one after lockdowns were lifted (2023, n=45 at one site), assessing technology confidence, device ownership, internet use, and learning pathways. Semistructured interviews with 8 participants in a technology trial scheme provided qualitative depth. Integration followed a connecting approach, with quantitative findings identifying patterns and qualitative data contextualizing them. Results: Technology adoption increased significantly between 2020 and 2023, with older adults reporting greater confidence ( Conclusions: Findings demonstrate that the pandemic accelerated lasting increases in technology adoption among older adults, though these changes also reflect broader societal, technological, and community-level factors. The persistent gender gap in confidence likely reflects cumulative life-course disadvantages in workplace technology exposure. Technology provision for older adults appears most effective when embedded within the social fabric of a community. These results provide evidence for housing providers and policymakers to formalize peer support pathways, introduce health-related technology through trusted social relationships, and design support that aligns with how residents are actually learning.
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