Modernization of the Welfare State through Digitalization for an Aging Population
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31558/2519-2949.2022.2.12Keywords:
digitalization of the state; welfare state; digital welfare state; elderly people; aging population; model of active agingAbstract
The paper aims to study the modernization of the welfare state through digitalization in the aging population. The tasks are: to find out the advantages of the digital model of the welfare state; outline the range of problems that arise in relation to the digitalization of the welfare state in view of the aging population; to analyze what steps at the level of state and society are appropriate so that the aging population does not become an obstacle to strengthening the stability of the welfare state. The research methodology is new institutionalism and axiological analysis. The author argues that digitalization is an economically viable response to the aging population. At the same time, it was emphasized that even in the most developed welfare states, there is a lack of readiness of the elderly to digitize the social sphere. At the same time, building a digital welfare state is possible only with a high level of digital literacy of all age groups. Emphasis is placed on the numerous advantages of the digital welfare state for the elderly: the possibility of receiving various social services regardless of physical mobility; increasing personal independence; opportunity to constantly learn, to remain active members of the community; make social contacts; prevention of segregation, etc. Reasons impeding the transition to digitized access to welfare state comprise: lack or insufficient experience of technical skills; lack of interest in digital technologies; adherence to established habits, conservatism; concerns about privacy; lack of Internet access, technical devices; financial problems; exclusion of a person from the network of family relations; health problems, etc. It has been argued that the rejection of digital technologies by the elderly and the lack of skills in using them threaten to create new social barriers for them. It is proved that the institution of the welfare state for its modernization should not only expect growth of digital cognizance in the elderly, but should lobby and implement programs for them to develop digital skills. It is proved that the digitalization of the institution of the welfare state will have a positive impact on the broad perspective of the welfare state in the aging population only if the model of active aging is implemented.
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