AARP Survey: 2026 Tech Trends among Older Adults
AARP just released their 2026 Tech Trends report showing trends in tech usage in older adults.
In the last ten years, the use of technology has increased dramatically among this demographic.
Ownership of smartphones increased from 55% to 90%.
Overall, older adults now own 7 devices on average, up from 4 in 2016.
More adults 70-79 years old own tablets than adults 50-69.
Older adults 70+ have experienced the largest jump in using technology. In 2016, 51% used tech to stay connected with loved ones. Today it’s 74%.
Older adults are recognizing how helpful technology can be in their daily lives and technology has become embedded in daily life. But, they are concerned about data privacy.
According to the report:
“Over the last decade, technology has evolved from being just a helpful add-on to being an embedded tool that makes life easier. It is proving to help older adults stay socially connected, age in place and live better lives. Many are now integrating smart home, health, and digital services into their daily lives to support independence, connection, and safety.”
There is still a lack of confidence in digital skills, particularly among those over 80 years old.
It’s more important than ever to make sure that all older adults have the digital skills and confidence to use technology.
Generative AI
The use of AI has almost doubled from 18% to 30% in the last year. But, respondents don’t trust that their personal data will remain private.
Tech and Health
The number of health-related technologies continue to increase–including devices that track fitness goals, monitor glucose levels or offer online mental health counseling and stress management tools. Interestingly, adults 80+ is the group that has had the biggest jump in recognizing the benefits of technology in health aging.
““The opportunity for the industry is to connect innovation to impact - translating complex capabilities into tangible, everyday value. Doing so means designing technology that feels intuitive, trustworthy, and personally meaningful; educating users on the real-world benefits; and demonstrating how digital tools can enhance, rather than replace, the human connections and independence that matter most
as people age.””
If you are interested in learning more about how older adults can gain confidence using technology and learn skills–everything from the basics of how to use smart phones and tablets to how to use Chat GPT, contact Candoo Tech www.candootech.com or partners@candootech.com.
To read the full report, click here.