Page 101 - Petelin, Ana, ur. 2021. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Zbornik povzetkov z recenzijo / Book of Abstracts. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
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ilty, well-being, and readiness to use digital technologies psihologija / sociala in zdravje starejših odraslih | psychology / social and health of the elderly
in retirement homes
Mateja Erce1, Dean Lipovac1,2, Rok Ovsenik3, Michael David Burnard1,2
1 Innorenew CoE, Izola, Slovenia
2 University of Primorska, Andrej Marušič Institute, Koper, Slovenia
3 Retirement home Izola, Izola, Slovenia
Introduction. Europe’s aging population brings new challenges such as frailty
and loneliness of older adults. Frailty leads to lower psychosocial and physi-
cal well-being, and lonely older adults are more likely to become frail and ill in
the future. Promising technologies are increasingly important for healthy ag-
ing; however, many older adults are not willing to use or adopt smart technol-
ogies. Within the Pilots for Healthy and Active Ageing Horizon (PHArA-ON)
2020 project, we examined older adults’ psychosocial well-being, frailty, and
readiness to use technology for health and wellbeing, to shape new and exist-
ing technological solutions.
Methods. Sixty-two individuals without major cognitive issues aged 65 or older
from three retirement homes in Slovenia completed a two-part questionnaire
with the support of a researcher. The first part of the questionnaire examined
psychosocial well-being with WHO-5 and UCLA Loneliness Scale, and frailty
with The Frailty Index. The second part of the questionnaire examined readi-
ness to use technologies, using a modified version of the Health Care Barriers
Instrument and demonstration videos of selected technologies.
Results. Each of the 12 presented technologies would be used by at least 50 %
and up to 89 % of older adults, including advanced technologies, such as sen-
sors for passive monitoring (84 %), voice-activated assistant (83 %), wearables
(e.g., smart bracelets; 83 %), and robots for (social) support (61 %). Individu-
als with higher wellbeing reported greater readiness to use technologies for
health monitoring (rs = .26, p = 0.04) and lower dissatisfaction with technolo-
gy in their surroundings (rs = -.47, p < 0.001), while those with higher perceived
control—the ability to actively intervene in their environment— reported low-
er readiness to use technologies for communication (rs = -.28, p = 0.03). Peo-
ple who reported greater readiness to use technology for one purpose (e.g.,
accessing health information) were more likely to adopt technologies for oth-
er purposes (e.g., communication) (rs = .53-.60, all p < 0.05). The readiness
to use technology differed between retirement homes but not between gen-
ders, and old older adults were less willing to use technology than younger old-
er adults (rs = -.44, p <0.001).
Discussion and conclusions. Older adults with lower well-being are less willing
to use technology, even though it might be more beneficial to their well-be-
ing. However, not all of the positive aspects of well-being are associated with
greater readiness to use technologies – those with a greater feeling of control
are less likely to use certain technologies (i.e., for communication). This sug-
gests that a different approach is needed in presenting technologies to those
with lower well-being, and that particular characteristic of older adults, such as
psychosocial needs and context, need to be considered.
Keywords: active ageing, digital technology, psychosocial well-being
99
in retirement homes
Mateja Erce1, Dean Lipovac1,2, Rok Ovsenik3, Michael David Burnard1,2
1 Innorenew CoE, Izola, Slovenia
2 University of Primorska, Andrej Marušič Institute, Koper, Slovenia
3 Retirement home Izola, Izola, Slovenia
Introduction. Europe’s aging population brings new challenges such as frailty
and loneliness of older adults. Frailty leads to lower psychosocial and physi-
cal well-being, and lonely older adults are more likely to become frail and ill in
the future. Promising technologies are increasingly important for healthy ag-
ing; however, many older adults are not willing to use or adopt smart technol-
ogies. Within the Pilots for Healthy and Active Ageing Horizon (PHArA-ON)
2020 project, we examined older adults’ psychosocial well-being, frailty, and
readiness to use technology for health and wellbeing, to shape new and exist-
ing technological solutions.
Methods. Sixty-two individuals without major cognitive issues aged 65 or older
from three retirement homes in Slovenia completed a two-part questionnaire
with the support of a researcher. The first part of the questionnaire examined
psychosocial well-being with WHO-5 and UCLA Loneliness Scale, and frailty
with The Frailty Index. The second part of the questionnaire examined readi-
ness to use technologies, using a modified version of the Health Care Barriers
Instrument and demonstration videos of selected technologies.
Results. Each of the 12 presented technologies would be used by at least 50 %
and up to 89 % of older adults, including advanced technologies, such as sen-
sors for passive monitoring (84 %), voice-activated assistant (83 %), wearables
(e.g., smart bracelets; 83 %), and robots for (social) support (61 %). Individu-
als with higher wellbeing reported greater readiness to use technologies for
health monitoring (rs = .26, p = 0.04) and lower dissatisfaction with technolo-
gy in their surroundings (rs = -.47, p < 0.001), while those with higher perceived
control—the ability to actively intervene in their environment— reported low-
er readiness to use technologies for communication (rs = -.28, p = 0.03). Peo-
ple who reported greater readiness to use technology for one purpose (e.g.,
accessing health information) were more likely to adopt technologies for oth-
er purposes (e.g., communication) (rs = .53-.60, all p < 0.05). The readiness
to use technology differed between retirement homes but not between gen-
ders, and old older adults were less willing to use technology than younger old-
er adults (rs = -.44, p <0.001).
Discussion and conclusions. Older adults with lower well-being are less willing
to use technology, even though it might be more beneficial to their well-be-
ing. However, not all of the positive aspects of well-being are associated with
greater readiness to use technologies – those with a greater feeling of control
are less likely to use certain technologies (i.e., for communication). This sug-
gests that a different approach is needed in presenting technologies to those
with lower well-being, and that particular characteristic of older adults, such as
psychosocial needs and context, need to be considered.
Keywords: active ageing, digital technology, psychosocial well-being
99
