Today's society is digitalised in many areas, with increased social interaction occurring online. According to previous studies, the group in society that experiences the greatest digital exclusion is older adults. Therefore, it is essential to urgently intensify efforts to help older individuals acquire greater digital skills and to understand and describe how their digital abilities can be enhanced.

Digital exclusion can manifest in various ways. Some older adults do not know digital tools at all, while others feel insecure using them. Many do not have anyone to ask for help or guidance. Low knowledge of digital tools and services can lead to reduced participation in society, exclusion, and social isolation.

The Digital Fixer service

In December 2020, Skövde Municipality launched a project that offers all individuals over the age of 65 the opportunity to receive assistance in acquiring knowledge about digital tools in their homes from a Digital Fixer. The Digital Fixer service is now available in several other municipalities in Skaraborg, as well as in other parts of the country. The idea behind the Digital Fixer is to combat digital exclusion and involuntary loneliness and to increase opportunities for participation in society.

The Digital Fixer is a new initiative in the social services sector. Previous efforts to enhance digital competence among older adults have mainly occurred at the group level. Therefore, there is a need for increased knowledge about what promotes older individuals’ learning of digital tools through individual assistance and coaching in their own homes, as well as what older adults feel the Digital Fixer service has provided them. Consequently, there is a reason to evaluate the project and expand the scientific knowledge in this area.

The overarching aim of the research project is to increase understanding and knowledge of how older individuals acquire digital competence through support from the Digital Fixer (DF) service in their own homes, what knowledge and skills the older individuals have gained, how they apply them, and what significance acquiring digital competence has had for the older person.