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Abstract. In the context of a globally ageing society, information and communication technologies (ICT) have a significant social potential for improving the quality of life of older people and maintaining the balance of the entire society. However, the impact of ICT is not as high as expected from this perspective. The article analyses the ICT usage among elderly Romanian individuals. While most sophisticate explanations regarding the low ICT adoption look towards computer anxiety, cognitive impairment and lack of knowledge, it seems that in Romania the main obstacle regarding ICT adoption still remains the basic one: no access. Scientific literature emphasizes the benefits of ICT for older people in terms of lower costs of healthcare assistance, reducing isolation and higher security regarding health risks and accidents. However, within the elderly Romanian population, people with low income, who live alone and have health issues are the less probable to use ICT.
Keywords: technology adoption, ICT, gerontechnology
Introduction
The dimension and consequences of the ageing of society is recognized by the European Union frameworks programs for research on ageing (Vancea, Sole-Casals, 2016). The demographic changes in Europe, as those worldwide, are significant, as the life expectancy is continually growing due to unprecedented medical advances and improved standards of living. Combined, the higher life expectancy and the lower birth rates during the last decades led to major changes in the structure of the European society. According to the European Commission, the European population is the world's most aged population, estimating that a quarter of Europeans will be over 60 in 2020. Until 2060, 30% of the European population is expected to be over 65 years old, with a share of the oldest-old - aged 80+ - to rise to 12% (European Commission, Population Ageing in Europe, 2014).
In the context of a globally ageing society, information and communication technologies (ICT) are considered to be beneficial in different ways, including the well-being, the inclusion and the sense of purpose of older people in their communities, allowing the so-called 'age in place'. On one hand, ICT can help old people to stay connected with friends and family, and offer leisure options and activities. But there is also an important healthcare dimension of ICT, with the rapid evolution of telemedicine applications...