Invisible and forgotten: digital exclusion of institutionalized elderly in the interior of Portugal

Elizângela Noronha; Carla Ganito

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-92712-6_12

Invisible and forgotten: digital exclusion of institutionalized elderly in the interior of Portugal

Elizângela Noronha
, Carla Ganito^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

Digital ageism contributes to the digital exclusion of elderly individuals. Low incomes and loss of financial autonomy is amongst the main factors for digital exclusion amongst the elderly, especially those institutionalized, nevertheless if economic issues can favor access to technology, without the necessary literacy, digital exclusion continues among older people. This paper presents the portrait of institutionalized elderly in the municipality of Covilhã, in the interior of Portugal, mainly made up of women aged 75 and above. We were able to confirm the importance of digital connection for the well-being of this age group that reported interest and enthusiasm for the use of digital devices and social networking site as they crave connection and to keep in touch with family. Albeit this interest there is a lack of access and support that reinforce stereotypes of incompetence. These findings have potential relevance for public policies addressing the needs of institutionalized elderly people.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Human aspects of IT for the aged population
Subtitle of host publication	11th international conference, ITAP 2025, held as part of the 27th HCI international conference, HCII 2025, proceedings
Editors	Qin Gao, Jia Zhou
Publisher	Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages	189-198
Number of pages	10
Edition	1
ISBN (Electronic)	9783031927126
ISBN (Print)	9783031927140
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-92712-6_12
Publication status	Published - May 2025
Event	11th International Conference on Human Aspects of IT for the Aged Population, ITAP 2025, held as part of the 27th HCI International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2025 - Gothenburg, Sweden Duration: 22 Jun 2025 → 27 Jun 2025

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Computer Science
ISSN (Print)	0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)	1611-3349

Conference

Conference	11th International Conference on Human Aspects of IT for the Aged Population, ITAP 2025, held as part of the 27th HCI International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2025
Country/Territory	Sweden
City	Gothenburg
Period	22/06/25 → 27/06/25

Keywords

Digital ageism
Digital exclusion
Institutionalized elderly
Interior of Portugal

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-031-92712-6_12

Cite this

Noronha, E., & Ganito, C. (2025). Invisible and forgotten: digital exclusion of institutionalized elderly in the interior of Portugal. In Q. Gao, & J. Zhou (Eds.), Human aspects of IT for the aged population: 11th international conference, ITAP 2025, held as part of the 27th HCI international conference, HCII 2025, proceedings (1 ed., pp. 189-198). (Lecture Notes in Computer Science). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-92712-6_12

Noronha, Elizângela ; Ganito, Carla. / Invisible and forgotten : digital exclusion of institutionalized elderly in the interior of Portugal. Human aspects of IT for the aged population: 11th international conference, ITAP 2025, held as part of the 27th HCI international conference, HCII 2025, proceedings. editor / Qin Gao ; Jia Zhou. 1. ed. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2025. pp. 189-198 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science).

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abstract = "Digital ageism contributes to the digital exclusion of elderly individuals. Low incomes and loss of financial autonomy is amongst the main factors for digital exclusion amongst the elderly, especially those institutionalized, nevertheless if economic issues can favor access to technology, without the necessary literacy, digital exclusion continues among older people. This paper presents the portrait of institutionalized elderly in the municipality of Covilh{\~a}, in the interior of Portugal, mainly made up of women aged 75 and above. We were able to confirm the importance of digital connection for the well-being of this age group that reported interest and enthusiasm for the use of digital devices and social networking site as they crave connection and to keep in touch with family. Albeit this interest there is a lack of access and support that reinforce stereotypes of incompetence. These findings have potential relevance for public policies addressing the needs of institutionalized elderly people.",

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Noronha, E & Ganito, C 2025, Invisible and forgotten: digital exclusion of institutionalized elderly in the interior of Portugal. in Q Gao & J Zhou (eds), Human aspects of IT for the aged population: 11th international conference, ITAP 2025, held as part of the 27th HCI international conference, HCII 2025, proceedings. 1 edn, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, pp. 189-198, 11th International Conference on Human Aspects of IT for the Aged Population, ITAP 2025, held as part of the 27th HCI International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2025, Gothenburg, Sweden, 22/06/25. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-92712-6_12

Invisible and forgotten: digital exclusion of institutionalized elderly in the interior of Portugal. / Noronha, Elizângela ; Ganito, Carla.
Human aspects of IT for the aged population: 11th international conference, ITAP 2025, held as part of the 27th HCI international conference, HCII 2025, proceedings. ed. / Qin Gao; Jia Zhou. 1. ed. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2025. p. 189-198 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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AU - Noronha, Elizângela

AU - Ganito, Carla

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.

PY - 2025/5

Y1 - 2025/5

N2 - Digital ageism contributes to the digital exclusion of elderly individuals. Low incomes and loss of financial autonomy is amongst the main factors for digital exclusion amongst the elderly, especially those institutionalized, nevertheless if economic issues can favor access to technology, without the necessary literacy, digital exclusion continues among older people. This paper presents the portrait of institutionalized elderly in the municipality of Covilhã, in the interior of Portugal, mainly made up of women aged 75 and above. We were able to confirm the importance of digital connection for the well-being of this age group that reported interest and enthusiasm for the use of digital devices and social networking site as they crave connection and to keep in touch with family. Albeit this interest there is a lack of access and support that reinforce stereotypes of incompetence. These findings have potential relevance for public policies addressing the needs of institutionalized elderly people.

AB - Digital ageism contributes to the digital exclusion of elderly individuals. Low incomes and loss of financial autonomy is amongst the main factors for digital exclusion amongst the elderly, especially those institutionalized, nevertheless if economic issues can favor access to technology, without the necessary literacy, digital exclusion continues among older people. This paper presents the portrait of institutionalized elderly in the municipality of Covilhã, in the interior of Portugal, mainly made up of women aged 75 and above. We were able to confirm the importance of digital connection for the well-being of this age group that reported interest and enthusiasm for the use of digital devices and social networking site as they crave connection and to keep in touch with family. Albeit this interest there is a lack of access and support that reinforce stereotypes of incompetence. These findings have potential relevance for public policies addressing the needs of institutionalized elderly people.

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PB - Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH

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ER -

Noronha E , Ganito C. Invisible and forgotten: digital exclusion of institutionalized elderly in the interior of Portugal. In Gao Q, Zhou J, editors, Human aspects of IT for the aged population: 11th international conference, ITAP 2025, held as part of the 27th HCI international conference, HCII 2025, proceedings. 1 ed. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. 2025. p. 189-198. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science). doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-92712-6_12

Invisible and forgotten: digital exclusion of institutionalized elderly in the interior of Portugal

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

CECC: Research Centre for Communication and Culture: UID/00126/2025. Pluriannual 2025-2029

Cite this

Invisible and forgotten: digital exclusion of institutionalized elderly in the interior of Portugal

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

CECC: Research Centre for Communication and Culture: UID/00126/2025. Pluriannual 2025-2029

Cite this