Theyre increasingly using digital services to manage their finances, social lives and health and wellness.
Many adults 50-plus also recognize the benefits of health-related tech.
Health-specific digital services, such as emergency alert devices and telemedicine, are helping individuals monitor their health.
Some digital services older adults use are free, while others have a cost.
Some older Americans are willing to pay for these resources or tools.
The survey indicates AI is gaining traction and triggering some curiosity.
Among older Americans, generative AI use has doubled from 9 percent in 2023 to 18 percent in 2024.
Another 30 percent are excited about the potential benefit of AI.
Concern over data privacy is the biggest barrier to tech adoption, according to one-third of older Americans polled.
This years survey found that just 59 percent feel that way, compared to 64 percent in 2023.
Methodology
The information was gathered from an online survey of 3,605 American adults in September 2024.
The survey, which took about 23 minutes to complete, was available both in English and Spanish.
The results were weighted according to demographics for U.S. adults ages 18-plus, 1849 and 50-plus.
For more information, like contact Brittne Kakulla atbkakulla@aarp.org.
For media inquiries, contact External Relations atmedia@aarp.org.
Technology Helps Older Adults Age in Place
Age tech is defined as technology to help people age in place.
Despite its usefulness, however, older adults have been slow to adopt it.
