Study shows lower-income seniors remain vulnerable to digital ownership

Older adults with lower income status may not own as many digital devices.

Findings from a May 2023 Singapore university study showed that on average, 12.12% of respondents who are aged 72-76 years old did not own any digital devices, compared to 3.73% of those aged 57-61 years old.

Singapore Management University’s Centre for Research on Successful Ageing (ROSA) also found in its brief findings that a higher proportion of females (7.22%) relative to males (4.79%) reported no digital ownership. 

In terms of housing type, the proportions of digital ownership were lowest among respondents residing in 1 to 3-room HDB flats and highest for those living in more affluent housing types, such as private apartments or property.

The research centre said it is concerned that 16.53% of respondents with primary/no education reported no digital ownership, compared with just 0.40% of those with university degrees.

Following these, ROSA recommended that lower-income older adults may benefit from more significant support in identifying and applying for existing public schemes such as DigitalAccess@Home, Public Rental Scheme, and ComCare Assistance that provide households with subsidised broadband and digital devices. 

More digital devices could be made available for public loan in neighbourhood settings, such as libraries, community centres (CCs) and residents’ committees (RCs).

This is where HealthierSG comes in as it begins its enrolment process for seniors. The healthcare reform also encouraged digitisation initiatives to address digital gaps amongst older adults.