technology
Aged Care Insite sat down with review co-author Azadeh
Rezvani, from QUT, to discuss whether some technologies
were more effective than others in reducing social isolation
and what more needs to be understood about technologybased interventions.
ACI: How effective were the technologies in reducing social
isolation? Were some more effective than others?
AR: As you know, technologies are a reality and can be applied
to reduce social isolation among older adults. Specifically,
our study shows that, in general, some technologies have
a positive impact on seniors’ lives and wellbeing. We found
that each technology accomplished this in a different way.
For example, general ICTs or internet use have provided a
new way to interact with others and access a wide variety of
information and community resources. Pet robot interventions
have [reduced] social isolation amongst seniors. They provide
the same advantages as animal-assisted therapies, such as
emotional support and giving adults a reliable companion.
Why is this an important area to explore at the moment?
Will we be seeing more aged-care organisations and
community-dwelling older adults using these technologies
or being expected to use them?
Find that
friendly
interface
Identifying digital advances
that can reduce social
isolation will improve lives
and cut healthcare costs.
Azadeh Rezvani interviewed
By Dallas Bastian
A
number of technology-based interventions have been
offered to older adults in a bid to reduce social isolation,
but do they work?
This is what researchers from Queensland University of
Technology sought to find out by undertaking a literature review
of studies.
The team found eight different technologies that have been
applied to alleviate social isolation: general ICT; video games;
robotics; personal reminder information and social management
systems; asynchronous peer support chat rooms; social network
sites; telecare; and 3D virtual environments.
They found a number of the technologies have a positive impact
on reducing social isolation but said more studies are needed to
evaluate the effectiveness of new technologies.
36 agedcareinsite.com.au
It is important to explore the effectiveness of technology [in
reducing] social isolation because loneliness in old age has
been linked to many problems amongst seniors, such as poor
cognitive functioning and reduction in physical activities or even
mental health [issues] and Alzheimer’s disease. As we know,
the number of older adults in Australia is growing. In Australia,
people aged 65 or older made up 16 per cent of the population
in 2012, [and it was believed to be 25 per cent in 2014]. This has
a large impact on the healthcare system, such as increased use
of healthcare, an increasing number of older adults with social
inclusion, and the need for more qualified caregivers.
Therefore, innovative and cost-effective ways are required
to meet the healthcare needs of older adults. By showing that
technology can play a significant role in reducing social isolation
in older adults, we’ll [encourage] more aged-care organisations
to use these kinds of technologies in the near future.
What more needs to be explored to gain a better
understanding of these uses of technology and to improve
the likelihood that these sorts of interventions will reduce
social isolation among older Australians?
It’s important to increase awareness of social isolation and
loneliness amongst seniors in our society, and provide
alternative ways to combat the problem. Few studies are
conducted in Australia, so more research is required to evaluate
the effectiveness of new technologies and [seniors’] willingness
to adopt these technologies, because some issues may prevent
them from doing so, such as computer anxiety and lack of
self-efficacy. Another area that needs to explored [further] is the
impact of social isolation on seniors’ health and their quality of
life, because [for one thing, it] increases the cost of healthcare.
Government and policymakers can help seniors by
contributing financial support for implementing new
technologies and increasing ICT literacy amongst seniors.
Finally, practitioners should promote the benefit of using these
new technologies to the elderly, their family members and
healthcare providers. ■