Abstract
Technology has become an increasingly integral part of life. For example, technology allows individuals to stay in touch with loved ones, obtain medical services through telehealthcare, and enjoy an overall higher quality of life. Particularly for older adults, using technology increases the likelihood that they will maintain their independence and autonomy. Long-distance caregiving has recently become a feasible option where caregivers for older adults can access reports and information about their loved one’s patterns that day (e.g., food and medication intake). Technology may be able to offset age-related challenges (e.g., caregiving, accessing healthcare, decreased social networks) by applying technology to the needs of older adults. Solutions for meeting such challenges, however, have been less targeted. In addition, the healthcare system is evolving to focus on providing options and services in the home. This has direct implications for older adults, as the majority of healthcare services are utilized by older adults. Research is still at the beginning stages of developing successful technology tools that are compatible with older adult users. Therefore, the design, implementation, and outcome of such computer-based communication activities will be discussed in this paper in order to guide future endeavors in technology marketed for older adults.
Highlights
The purpose of this research was to implement computer-based communication activities to test with an older adult population and to evaluate the user experience of such tools by conducting a focus group following the research study
Previous research has indicated that the acceptability of monitoring technology has been understudied [21]
Participants appreciated Skype and noted the benefits of using similar technologies for telehealthcare purposes in the future, especially for rural older adults who may find it difficult to travel to appointments
Summary
As pointed out in [1], we are currently witnessing two remarkable trends: the rapid diffusion of technology and widespread population aging. Technology has the potential to enhance older adults’ abilities, relationships, and health. Older people are less likely to adopt new technologies into their lives unless they see clear benefits to themselves [2]. Older adults are more willing to use technology than stereotypes suggest, and important predictors of adoption are attitude, nature of the experience, available support, and perceived utility [3]. Regardless of users’ ages, existing research stresses the importance of a user-driven perspective
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