A Step Toward Technology

Growing old in a digital society: findings, risks of exclusion, and practical solutions (France / Europe).

Growing old in Europe is not just about “having more years.” It also means having to navigate a world where access to rights, healthcare, and social connections increasingly happens through screens.
Technology is no longer background scenery. It has become a daily life tool… but also a factor of exclusion when poorly designed.

I. An ageing society  

In France and across Europe, around 22% of the population is aged 65 or over (estimate as of January 1, 2026).

And ageing is “thickening”: the share of the oldest age groups (notably 85+) will continue to rise, changing the nature of needs (health, mobility, autonomy, isolation).

II. The real issue is not “technology,” but access  

A. Digital illiteracy: when digital becomes a barrier  

Digital illiteracy refers to the situation of a person who does not possess basic digital skills
(searching for information online, communicating online, using software, protecting privacy,
solving problems online) or who has not used the Internet
(inability or material impossibility to use it in the past three months).

In France, 15.4% of people aged 15 or over are affected by digital illiteracy (2021).
This phenomenon increases sharply with age:

• 2.4% among 15–24 year-olds,
• 4.3% among 25–39 year-olds,
• 5.9% among 40–59 year-olds,
• 24.2% among 60–74 year-olds,
• and 61.9% among those 75 and over.

Gaps by education level and social background remain significant.

It is not just about “knowing how to click.” It is also about:

• knowing how to create and remember login credentials,
• spotting scams,
• understanding administrative interfaces,
• daring to ask for help without feeling ashamed.

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B. The dematerialization of services: convenient… until it becomes mandatory  

When booking appointments, managing pensions, social benefits, or even banking services no longer have a simple alternative, autonomy mechanically declines (and the burden falls back on relatives).

C. Loss of autonomy: a predictable wave  

In 2021 in France, more than 2 million people aged 60 or over were experiencing loss of autonomy. By 2050, projections estimate around 2.8 million (median scenario).
This is not a surprise: it is a long-term, documented trend… and therefore foreseeable.

III. Human and technical solutions  

A. Designing “senior-friendly” digital tools (and making it a standard)  

A few simple principles have a major impact:

• no jargon, short sentences, strong contrast, large buttons
• journeys in 3 steps maximum (“I want / I do / I confirm”)
• explainable errors (“what happened” + “what to do now”)
• a “caregiver mode” (a relative can assist without taking full control)

This is a matter of ergonomics, but above all of respect and autonomy.

Update (since June 28, 2025): accessibility has changed status.
With the entry into force of the European Accessibility Act, accessibility is no longer just a “best practice”: it becomes a structuring framework at the European level for a range of everyday products and services. For seniors, this is decisive: what we call “senior-friendly” (readability, simplicity, tolerance for errors) becomes an expected and verifiable quality. The challenge is no longer simply “helping older people,” but designing services usable by everyone — including in situations of fatigue, stress, or reduced vision/motor skills.

B. Providing on-the-ground support  

Classroom-style training helps, but real effectiveness often comes from companionship-based support: small group workshops, help in real-life situations (completing your procedure, on your phone), and above all trusted places.

Several European countries make this model very explicit:

• Finland: the state formalizes “digital support” and relies on a network of actors (including libraries and associations) to help people use online services safely.
• The Netherlands: support around digital identity (DigiD) also relies on libraries / information points — a reassuring entry point when the process feels intimidating.
• Denmark: digital services are largely “by default,” but access is based on a highly structured organization (digital identity, public portals) and support via service points rather than leaving everyone to manage alone.

Common point: if digital becomes the default pathway, then support must also become a default service.

C. Building on a useful fact: equipment is increasing — but must be converted into autonomy  

Good news: device ownership is rising even among the oldest groups. In France, 70% of people aged 70 and over own a smartphone (Digital Barometer 2024).

The question becomes: how do we turn this equipment into real autonomy?
The answer is rarely “more apps”: it is rather fewer tools, carefully chosen, and a simple routine (communicate, retrieve information, manage appointments).

D. Health and ageing at home  

When autonomy declines, the most effective solutions are often hybrid:

• teleassistance (falls, discomfort, emergency calls)
• medication reminders
• remote monitoring for certain conditions
• simple sensors (no need for a full “smart home” setup)

Technology does not replace care: it reduces the delay between “problem” and “help.”

Update 2026: digital health is becoming a concrete foundation — and must therefore be supported.
In January 2026, Mon espace santé reached notable maturity of use: more than 24 million activated profiles, more than 2.5 million monthly users, and nearly 420 million documents uploaded in one year.
At the same time, opening up to certified services marks a turning point: since September 2025, a first application (e.g., glucose monitoring) can feed data into Mon espace santé with the user’s consent.
Practical consequence for seniors: support must be “clean” (clear, traceable, revocable delegation) and routines must stay minimal: retrieve a document, share information, understand a notification — without multiplying apps.

E. A guiding thread: rebuilding connection (without adding complexity)  

Digital tools can reduce isolation (video calls, groups, family messaging), but only if the entry point is gentle:

• one single app for the family
• a simple ritual (Sunday video call)
• explicit family support (who helps, when, how)

IV. Where to start: a simple roadmap  

When talking about “seniors and digital,” there is often a temptation to solve everything at once (devices, apps, security, health, procedures…). In practice, the most effective approach is to move forward in small steps, following a logic: reduce risks first, then gain autonomy, then build comfort.

1) Start from the real need (not the tool)  

Before discussing smartphones or apps, ask three very concrete questions:

• What is the most painful thing today? (administration, appointments, banking, isolation, health…)
• What is the riskiest? (scams, forgotten medication, falls, missed appointments…)
• What would improve life this week? (a simple video call, photographing documents, a reminder…)

Objective: choose one single use case at a time.

2) Secure access before adding features  

Priority number one is not “learning,” but avoiding disaster.

• Update the device (and enable automatic updates if possible)
• Activate a simple lock (PIN, fingerprint) + a recovery option
• Activate a password manager or a very simple (but consistent) system
• Check basic settings (Wi-Fi, mobile data, location if needed)

If a relative helps: document where important information is stored (paper + digital), without relying on a single person.

3) Choose a minimal “core”: 3 uses that change everything  

To begin, aim for a trio of “quick autonomy”:

1. Communicate
   A single channel: calls + messages + (optional) video, with 2–3 favorite contacts.

2. Retrieve and share information
   Photos of documents, sending them to a relative, and a simple folder structure (“Health,” “Documents,” “Home”).

3. Appointments & reminders
   Shared calendar or simple reminders (medication, appointments, tasks), with clear notifications.

Until these three basics are comfortable, avoid multiplying applications.

4) Install a learning routine (10 minutes, not 2 hours)  

The right rhythm is often:

• 10 minutes,
• one single action,
• repeated 3 times in the week.

Examples:

• “open a message and reply”
• “start a video call”
• “take a clear photo of a document and send it”
• “find an appointment / add a reminder”

Repetition turns the tool into a reflex.

5) Create a “caregiver mode” without infantilizing  

Very useful: define how help is provided.

• A fixed time slot (“Tuesday 6 pm, 15 minutes”)
• A simple rule: “we do it together, we don’t do it instead”
• A written support sheet: one A4 page “3 key actions” (with screenshots if possible)

The goal is not control, but keeping the person active.

6) Only then: health, public services, home automation  

Once the foundation is stable, additions can be made depending on context:

• Teleassistance / emergency calls / fall detection (if relevant)
• Health access (prescriptions, results, appointments)
• Administrative procedures (with guided steps)
• Light home automation (lighting, heating) only if it reduces a real constraint

7) Measure progress (simply)  

A good indicator: after one month, the person should be able to do without help:

• contact a relative
• retrieve information
• manage an appointment or reminder

If not, it is not a “failure”: it often signals that the interface, routine, or tool choice is too complex.

V. Tomorrow’s seniors will be better prepared — but not immune  

People aged 70 and over are increasingly connected.
In 2024, nearly two thirds use digital tools daily.
In 2017, fewer than four out of ten did.

Tomorrow’s seniors will, on average, be better equipped to face digital environments.

They will have used the Internet more in professional and daily life, and INSEE highlights a generation effect suggesting that “at the same age,” future older people will be less affected by digital illiteracy.

But this improvement will not make the problem disappear.

First, because ageing is often accompanied by concrete limitations (vision, motor skills, cognitive fatigue, loss of autonomy) that can turn a “standard” interface into an obstacle course.

Second, because services continue to grow more complex (digital identities, two-factor authentication, fully online procedures): being comfortable at 55 does not guarantee being comfortable at 75.

Finally, social and educational inequalities persist and continue to amplify the digital divide. In other words: the curve may improve, but without accessibility, human support, and simple tools, exclusion will shift rather than disappear.

Conclusion — A compass to move forward  

Growing old in a digital world should never mean “losing control” over one’s life. Yet when procedures are dematerialized, appointments booked online, digital identities multiplied, and interfaces change without warning, the risk is simple: confusing modernization with exclusion.

We must not ask older people to adapt alone to this complexity.
It is digital systems that must adapt to the reality of ageing.

Concretely, this implies three clear commitments:

• Make services usable: accessibility, plain language, short pathways, understandable errors, and real alternatives when “online-only” becomes a wall.
• Never leave technology without mediation: welcome centers, structured support, equipped caregivers, step-by-step learning and repetition — because autonomy is built, not declared.
• Choose sobriety over escalation: fewer applications, fewer steps, less jargon, and constant focus on what truly matters: communicating, managing information, keeping appointments, staying safe.

Tomorrow’s seniors will often be more familiar with digital tools, but that will not be enough: age, health, cognitive fatigue, and social inequalities will continue to create drop-offs. The real question is not “how will seniors keep up?” but how we design and organize services that leave no one behind.

A step toward technology is not about “putting everyone in front of an app.”
It is about building a world where technology remains a tool serving autonomy, connection, and inclusion.

🔗 Useful links  

Eurostat — Population structure and ageing (EU)

INSEE — Projections / age structure and ageing (general reference)

INSEE — Digital illiteracy: share of population concerned (2021)

INSEE — Digital skills by age (including 75+)

Société Numérique (ANCT) — Digital Barometer 2024

AccessibleEU — The EAA comes into effect in June 2025 (28 June 2025)