Information And Communication Technology And Its Effect On Social Isolation Among Older Adults

The Problem: Social Isolation among Older Adults

Describe about the Introduction of Information and Communication Technology.

In this project, the topic “Technology and Social Isolation” was chosen with an aim of investigating the consequence of the technological progression on the social existence of the contemporary society. The topic is one of the most provocative issues in today’s times, and is an all-comprising one. No one is left out from the effects of the advancement of technology. Therefore, it is important to understand how technology is effecting out daily lives – positively or negatively. We also need to find out how to properly use the technologies for further progression of the society, and if there is any negative influence then an attempt to find a solution to that is required. As stated by Khosravi, Rezvani and Wiewiora (2016) the broad employment of technology and the societal isolation amongst the public is directly related with each other. Two diverse opinions can be talked about in this context. As stated by Yao and Zhong (2014) these two elements are characteristically dependent on one another. Many researchers argue that the advancements have restricted social interaction; however the advancements have also made the public self-sufficient, says Khurshid and Gul (2014). As argued by Chen and Schulz (2016) the latest technologies have pushed us nearer to our associates and the community in general. With the introduction of internet, we have received the chance to unite with our far-away acquaintances and relations more swiftly and recurrently. As discussed by Campbell (2014) and Mahmoudi, Amini and Hosseinzadeh (2014), in numerous contexts it has been observed that the latest technologies have assisted the public in networking and participating in considerable social uprisings.

The main objective of this project was to find out how information and communication technology, especially the internet influences the common people. The approach taken here is its effect on the older adults. Researchers generally opine that technology advancements affect the society negatively. However, this project report’s approach shows a positive side of it and examines a matter on which either very less amount of research has been done or the research conducted have not been able to provide a proper conclusion on the advantage or disadvantage of these advancements.

The project has been done keeping in mind the sense of loneliness and social isolation prevalent in older adults. The older adults, especially the ones residing in assisted and independent living communities are detached from the outside world and their social ties. The advancements of technology are unknown to them, and thus, they are not able to utilize that for their benefit. Due to the isolated feeling, they experience health issues creeping in along with a detrimental effect on their well-being, and their mortality risks increase. Therefore, to make use of a disruptive technology in a productive way, introduction of information and communication technology is recommended. It reduces the distance between them and their social connections. Cotton’s (2013) analysis on the impact of internet usage on senior citizens is taken as a guideline for this project. The study comprises of analyses of various experts of this subject, who examine the risk factors and recommend solutions for the same.

Using Information and Communication Technology to Counter Social Isolation

As people age with time, they lose connection with their social contacts due to various reasons. Due to this break in connection, they start feeling an increased sense of loneliness and social isolation. It results in increased mortality risks and rising death rates among older adults. Various psychological resources are provided for them to support this feeling of them, and develop their well-being and healthiness. One such recommended solution is information and communication technology. Introduction of this technology would help reduce the sense of loneliness among the senior citizens. They might feel more connected by using this technology as it reduces the distance between them and their social network. Chen and Schulz (2016) state that information and communication technology, in most cases, served as a useful approach for the older adults to remain in touch with others and extend their social connections. It is imperative to make a note of that older adult’s use of latest technologies and Internet especially improved their social associations. This approach is researched elaborately in this project, finding solutions for the issue of increase in mortality risks among elderly people.

Social isolation in general is an untested concept. The incomplete inspection of the concept as a multidimensional paradigm may possibly be a consequence of the deficiency of a proper scale along with limited data. However, some researches show that with proper training, the elderly can benefit from information and communication technology interventions. Furthermore, customized trainings are required for the elderly, as they face certain physical, social and spatial barriers. There are diverse methods by which information and communication technologies affect various types of isolation and social assistance amongst the older adults.

The greater part of the evaluated reports tested the Information and Communication Technology interference as a one-time solution. Research showed that the mitigation provided for social isolation and loneliness in the form of Information and Communication technology is a short-term one. Therefore, the generalization potential of the outcome is narrow. Further assessment is required to check their applicability.

In addition, the outcome of certain analyses put forward that information and communication technology usage does not promise quality of communication. As a result, exploring how to employ information and communication technology for producing quality communication among the senior people and others could be a potential topic for future studies on loneliness and social separation.  This evaluation widened the investigation of the obtainable social isolation interferences and their efficiency and assisted to better accomplish the purpose of the research. Further specifics and data are required to exhibit that even though Information and Communication Technology and increased internet usage is detrimental for the social interactions, it can be utilized in a positive manner to solve the same issue it creates, i.e., social isolation

Challenges and Solutions

See Figure 1 to see a graph of the percentage of the internet users in each age group who use social networking sites, over time. It shows that the elder people age group of 65+ showed an inclined growth in internet usage. It can be understood that with time the usage of internet has multiplied among the older adults age group and a surge has been noted. It means that the introduction of information and communication technology among this age group would benefit the community as a whole, by improving the connectivity between the adults and their social ties.

Conclusion

Social isolation and loneliness are amongst risk aspects that have harmful effects on older adults’ health. It is thus imperative to enhance understanding of this concern within society and suggest substitute answers to lessen the influence of social isolation amongst the seniors. A variety of technologies is being employed to present health care to the elderly. Large quantities of research points out that ICT practice might assist older adults retain contact with social links with relations happening both online and offline. Internet usage can also lessen the influence of geographic distance for senior citizens, with scattered families, more and more utilizing the Internet as the prime medium of communication by which they maintain generational connections.

There is an immaculate correlation involving technology and social isolation in older adults, especially those living in assisted and independent living communities. Thoughts about loneliness instead of social isolation elements were established to be a critical risk factor for escalating mortality in older adults. Understanding properly the characteristics of this relationship might help to develop the condition of life and existence, particularly in older adults. Making use of the Internet among senior citizens in assisted and independent living communities might be advantageous for lessening loneliness and multiplying social connection.  Conclusions point out that Internet usage is connected with lower stages of loneliness amongst inhabitants of assisted and independent living communities.  Furthermore, among the common public, employing the Internet to sustain contact with relatives and acquaintances has been related with welfare, further presenting defense for the proposal that being available online can possibly be advantageous for older population. Supporting senior citizens to start exploiting the Internet to correspond with others might be of assistance to improve social contact and reduce loneliness. As formal care communities are capable of encouraging social commitment between inhabitants, sustaining subsisting Information and Communication Technology programs and starting fresh ones in groups without the same may well be favorable for nurturing associations among inhabitants in addition to with other people in their public networks.

Conclusion

The conducted review has recommended a requirement for further well-formulated research on the consequence of information and communication technology interferences on the social segregation of older adults. Information and communication technology, on the whole, is a potential device for dealing with loneliness and social detachment of the older adults, except it is not in favor of each senior. Researches recognizing whom among the senior citizens can most profit from information and communication technology usage and how the guidance and execution of such interference must be modified to make the most of its consequence presents immense value for experimental practice. Additionally, with the swift growth of information and communication technology, the efficiency of other sorts of interferences (like, cell phone-based immediate texting applications and YouTube videos) in diminishing social loneliness and isolation ought to be empirically scrutinized. Outcomes of such study can make possible inventive and effectual practice of information and communication technology-based social loneliness and isolation interferences for adult people.

The main agenda of this report was to find a way to use the technology, that creates distance between people, to create a connection between the communities. Extensive research and available resources showed that older adults suffer from social isolation and loneliness, and it affects their health and social well-being. Thus, their community was the best option were implementation of the advanced technology would bring success in terms of reduction in mortality risks and improved social connections among the populace. Information and communication technology (ICT), along with other technologies, as suggested by some researchers, are the best solutions to this problem.

We are all aware of the negative impacts of technology, and the role it plays in creating social isolation. However, using the same technology in solving the issue it creates, even if in a different community or age group, is a good example of proper utilization of resources and advancements. Finally, the older adults do not have to feel left out anymore. They now have a way to remain up-to-date and in contact with their social ties.

References

Campbell, T.A., 2014. iPads, iPods and Technology-Enabled Isolation: If We’re So Connected, Why are We so Alone?. GSTF Journal of Music (JMusic), 1(1).

Chen, Y. R. R., & Schulz, P. J. (2016). The effect of information communication technology interventions on reducing social isolation in the elderly: A systematic review. Journal of medical Internet research, 18(1).

Cotten, S. R., Anderson, W. A., & McCullough, B. M. (2013). Impact of internet use on loneliness and contact with others among older adults: cross-sectional analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 15(2).

Khosravi, P., Rezvani, A., & Wiewiora, A. (2016). The impact of technology on older adults’ social isolation. Computers in Human Behavior, 63, 594-603.

Khurshid, B., & Gul, F. (2014). RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTERNET USAGE AND SOCIAL ISOLATION: STUDY OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN PAKISTAN. International Journal of Management and Computing Sciences (IJMCS), 4(3-4), 45.

Mahmoudi, I., Amini, A., & Hosseinzadeh, A. (2014). The role of the internet in social isolation of the university students. Advances in Environmental Biology, 871-879.

Yao, M. Z., & Zhong, Z. J. (2014). Loneliness, social contacts and Internet addiction: A cross-lagged panel study. Computers in Human Behavior, 30, 164-170.