What is it about?
Covid-19 has meant that many older people find themselves isolated or living alone with limitations on access to their usual support systems. In this context, digital technologies can provide ways of connecting families, delivering health services, groceries, banking and more. Yet, digital technologies are not without challenges for many older adults to access and use. This article discusses whether whether digital communication technologies are useful for reducing social isolation and loneliness among older adults, which is especially relevant in the Covid-19 context.
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Photo by Tiago Muraro on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Understanding the issues surrounding digital technology usage by older adults is more urgent due to the Covid-19 pandemic which has required older adults to physically and socially distance from family, friends, neighbours, communities and health services.
Perspectives
I hope this article helps us to stop and think about the many older adults in our personal lives as well as our local communities and understand some of the challenges with things we might take for granted if we are comfortable technology users. More than anything else, I hope you find this article thought-provoking about viewing ways to support older adults flourishing through social connections and personal meaning in their life.
Dr Diana Leigh Amundsen
University of Waikato
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Digital Technologies as a Panacea for Social Isolation and Loneliness among Older Adults: An Intervention Model for Flourishing and Wellbeing, Video Journal of Education and Pedagogy, January 2021, Brill,
DOI: 10.1163/23644583-00501008.
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