Healthy Ageing In A Digital World

Demography and Democracy – Healthy Ageing in a Digital World (HAIDI) is a comparative, cross-country research project involving researchers from Sweden (Lund University), Denmark (University of Southern Denmark) and Finland (University of Eastern Finland). The project addresses two critical challenges for the Nordic countries and their ageing population: digitalisation and health development. The purpose is to provide new knowledge to counteract health disparities related to the changing demographic patterns and neutralise digital divides threatening inclusion and democracy.

The ageing populations, increasingly affected by chronic conditions and limited capacities to carry out activities in their daily lives, put extra burdens on the health care systems. The panacea for this is the employment of digital health and welfare services. At the same time, research shows that older people’s use of digital technology decreases with age and varies depending on several different factors, such as sociodemographic and economic status, interest in technology, earlier experience, living conditions (urban vs rural), social support and networks, physical and cognitive impairments, etc.

The speedy digital transformation of the Nordic welfare societies leaves older people at risk of digital exclusion, which can lead to social isolation and affect their health. The presumed advantages of digitalisation may turn into drawbacks. Instead of closing health disparities and gaps between generations and groups, digitalisation risks widening the gaps, and even increases older citizens’ feelings of being alienated.

There is a need for exploring digitalisation on an everyday level “sensitive to social and cultural differences among older people [-] to qualify studies on digital and social inequality, their possible interconnections and supposed consequences for the quality of later life” (Givskov & Deuze, 2018: 400). This project makes a unique contribution by combining media and communication studies with social and cultural gerontology. By focusing on the 75 and older demographic, both users and non-users of digital technology, the research addresses a gap in knowledge about older citizens and digital media. The project also stands out from earlier data-driven research by combining a strong theoretical framework with qualitative methods and new research fields in the Nordics.

Research questions:

1. How is digitalisation as a solution to health and health equity addressed in policy and the broader public discourse in the Nordic countries?
2. How are digitalisation and digital technology perceived and used by older Nordic citizens, and how does this digitalisation affect their well-being, inclusion, and state of health in our Nordic democracies?
3. How do health professionals, in their interaction and communication with older patients/clients make use of digital technology, and what opportunities and challenges do they face in providing equal health for all?
4. How can the two groups’ experiences, understandings and know-how of digital technology be transformed into practical guidance for older citizens, and professionals in the health care and welfare systems in the Nordic countries?

The project builds on multi-methodology: policy analysis, media discourse analysis and an ethnographic approach. The latter includes home visits, observations, in-depth interviews, and media go-alongs with citizens over 75 and those working in the health care system supporting this demographic.

The project has been approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (Etikprövningsmyndigheten). Dnr 2022-05780-01.

What is Future challenges in the Nordics?

Future Challenges in the Nordics – People, Culture and Society is a seven-year research programme that stimulates research within humanities and social sciences in the Nordics. The programme focuses on the large societal challenges of the 21st century and how those challenges are understood and handled within Nordic societies. The research programme financed in total of eleven projects out of approximately 450 applications. The research aim is to benefit society by producing findings that are easy for citizens and decision-makers to access.

How is the programme financed?

The research programme, Future Challenges in the Nordics – People, Culture and Society is financed by the Society of Swedish Literature in Finland, The Finnish Cultural Foundation, The Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland, Stiftelsen Brita Maria Renlunds minne, Riksbankens Jubileumsfond and The Kamprad Family Foundation for Entrepreneurship, Research & Charity.