Exploring the impact of information and communication technologies on loneliness and social isolation in community-dwelling older adults: a scoping review of reviews

BMC Geriatrics, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 24(1)

Published: March 2, 2024

Abstract Background Recognizing the escalating public health concerns of loneliness and social isolation in aging populations, this study seeks to comprehensively explore potential information communication technology (ICT)-based interventions address these issues among older adults. This scoping review reviews aims map synthesize existing evidence on effectiveness scope ICT targeting community-dwelling adults, elucidating types technology, impacts, facilitators, barriers, research gaps. Methods Following Joanna Briggs Institute framework, we systematically searched eight diverse databases identifying relevant published reviews. We included English-written, peer-reviewed all types, with no limits regarding time publication about ICTs and/or for Eligible were analysed summarized, offering a holistic narrative reported their impact, identified facilitators barriers influencing implementation adoption interventions, gaps literature. Results The 39 publications between 2012 2024, spanning systematic, scoping, Various reported, primarily media virtual communities, followed by video-mediated friendly visits, conversational agents, robots, exergames online gameplay. Predominantly positive impacts mitigating evident ICTs, although methodological diversity contradictory findings complicated definite conclusions. Facilitators encompassed individual competencies, access usage, intervention design implementation. Research involved specific subgroups, exploring innovative technologies, incorporating designs, improving methodologies, addressing usability accessibility. Future should focus elderly individuals who can benefit most from use, novel using wider range enhancing accessibility considerations. Conclusions sheds light associated use. investigations prioritize refining outcome measures, gender differences, interventions. involvement adults process exploration technological training hold promise overcoming barriers.

Language: Английский

---

Exploring the impact of socially assistive robots on health and wellbeing across the lifespan: An umbrella review and meta-analysis

International Journal of Nursing Studies, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 153, P. 104730 - 104730

Published: Feb. 22, 2024

Socially assistive robots offer an alternate source of connection for interventions within health and social care amidst a landscape technological advancement reduced staff capacity. There is need to summarise the available systematic reviews on wellbeing impacts evaluate effectiveness, explore potential moderators mediators, identify recommendations future research practice.

Language: Английский

---

The use of technology to address loneliness and social isolation among older adults: the role of social care providers

BMC Public Health, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 24(1)

Published: Jan. 6, 2024

Addressing loneliness and social isolation among older adults remains a public health priority. The restrictions enforced during the COVID-19 pandemic simultaneously heightened need for services to overcome reduce adults, while also limiting care providers' ability deliver these. aim of this study was explore experiences providers in using technology address pandemic.

Language: Английский

---

Use and Acceptance of Digital Communication Technology by Older Adults for Social Connectedness During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Mixed Methods Study

Journal of Medical Internet Research, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 25, P. e41535 - e41535

Published: June 17, 2023

Older adults are at higher risk for health issues, including mental problems. This was especially apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, where older were simultaneously more vulnerable to disease and concerns created by social distancing. Subsequently, use of digital communication technology (DCT) became a critical option maintaining connectedness in adults. Prior low uptake an established problem, known as divide. However, not much is about how this may have changed result pandemic.

Language: Английский

---

The effectiveness of technology interventions in reducing social isolation and loneliness among community-dwelling older people: A mixed methods systematic review

Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics Plus, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 1(1), P. 100008 - 100008

Published: Feb. 3, 2024

This study reviewed technology-based interventions targeting social isolation and loneliness in community-dwelling older adults. Specific aims were to identify theoretical perspectives, assess intervention effectiveness, barriers enablers of these interventions. A mixed methods systematic review studies was conducted, searching six databases (PubMed, PsychINFO, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, ACM Embase). Peer-reviewed articles describing communicative with qualitative, quantitative, mixed-method, or observational designs, conducted community settings adults (aged ≥65 years), where and/or key outcome measures, included. The quality the assessed using Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Nineteen included review. Theory integration rare studies' research designs. Most small-scale pilot feasibility studies, displaying diverse small sample sizes, variable MMAT-assessed quality. highlighted significant such as resource demands, participant health, literacy, technical challenges. Significant demands continue impede addressing populations. Future designs must adapt overcome challenges, tailoring approaches marginalised often frail communities aim support.

Language: Английский

---

Virtual Reality activity comes along with improved activity level and consistent wellbeing in seniors living in nursing homes: a longitudinal study in naturalistic setting (Preprint)

JMIR Serious Games, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12, P. e50796 - e50796

Published: Feb. 3, 2024

In addition to illness, inactivity is a risk factor for high mortality in nursing homes. Using innovative technology, such as virtual reality (VR), meaningful group activities could provide new opportunities solving this problem. VR interventions have already been approved promising method enhancing the health of older adults.

Language: Английский

---

The association between information and communication technologies, loneliness and social connectedness: A scoping review

Frontiers in Psychology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14

Published: March 22, 2023

Older adults are at a higher risk of loneliness, compared to other demographics. The use Internet Communication and Technologies (ICTs) among older is steadily increasing given ICTs provide means enhancing social connectedness suggests they may have positive effects on reducing loneliness. Therefore, the aim this scoping review was examine research that explores how be implicated in mitigating loneliness adults. After examination 54 articles, we identified three major themes within literature: (1) were associated with reduction increase wellbeing. (2) promoted by facilitating conversations. (3) Factors such as training, self-efficacy, self-esteem, autonomy, design/features, or affordances, contribute toward associations between ICT heterogeneity methodologies, statistical reporting, small sample sizes interventional observational studies, diversity experimental contexts underline challenges quantitative field highlights necessity tailoring interventions needs users.

Language: Английский

---

Experiences of a Community-Based Digital Intervention Among Older People Living in a Low-Income Neighborhood: Qualitative Study

JMIR Aging, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 7, P. e52292 - e52292

Published: March 9, 2024

Background Older adults worldwide experienced heightened risks of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and poor mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this period, digital technology emerged as a means to mitigate social isolation enhance connectedness among older adults. However, adults’ behaviors attitudes toward adoption use are heterogeneous shaped by factors such age, income, education. Few empirical studies have examined how experiencing economic disadvantages perceive learning tools. Objective This study aims examine motivations, experiences, perceptions community-based intervention residing in public rental flats low-income neighborhood. Specifically, we explored their smartphones experiences related age socioeconomic challenges. Methods adopted qualitative methodology. Between December 2020 March 2021, conducted semistructured in-depth interviews with 19 participants aged ≥60 years who had completed intervention. We asked questions about challenges encountered amid pandemic, perceived benefits difficulties smartphone use, participating All were audio recorded analyzed using reflexive thematic approach. Results Although learners stated varying levels motivation learn, most expressed ambivalence utility relevance current needs priorities. While valued interaction volunteers personalized model intervention, they also articulated barriers age-related cognitive physical limitations language illiteracy that hindered sustained these devices. Most importantly, internalization ageist stereotypes being less worthy perception realm privileged other further reduced self-efficacy interest learning. Conclusions To improve for low it is essential explore avenues render tools pertinent daily lives, creating opportunities connections relationship building. Future should investigate relationships between social, economic, health marginality ability access technologies. recommend design implementation interventions prioritize catering preferences various segments adults, while working bridge rather than perpetuate divide.

Language: Английский

---

Understanding the Role of Technology in Older Adults' Changing Social Support Networks

Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 8(CSCW1), P. 1 - 28

Published: April 17, 2024

Technologies that facilitate communication between older adults and those around them have the potential to strengthen adults' connections with their support network. In this paper, we present findings from interviews 16 adult participants in United States about social network composition related technology use during a challenging life event, COVID-19 pandemic, which saw decrease of in-person meetings increase adoption. Using convoy model relations, sought better understand roles different technologies play connections. Participants chose what tools depending on situational contexts overcame accessibility issues adopt new supported continued engagement networks. However, when others positioned as ways for receive support, they resisted. A more comprehensive view evolving convoys can help designers researchers create expand maintain Further, connectivity, design should encourage networks see providers, not just recipients.

Language: Английский

---

Diverse Digital Responses to Loneliness in Older Adults: A Systematic Review from a Social Work Perspective

Clinical Social Work Journal, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 16, 2025

Abstract In an interconnected world, loneliness is paradoxically emerging as a growing threat to health, associated with increased likelihood of illness, and becoming one the most frequent causes death among older adults. Experts from various disciplines have identified pressing need address this phenomenon see technology powerful ally in facing challenge. Through technological innovations communication connectivity, solutions are being explored mitigate foster social inclusion. This study aims comprehensively methodically analyze systematize previous research on focusing effectiveness information aimed at mitigating feelings adults over 65 work perspective. The results confirm that who participate prevention and/or intervention programs against supported by report positive differences. However, although levels reduced compared beginning intervention, they never eliminated.

Language: Английский

---