When Going Digital Becomes a Necessity: Ensuring Older Adults’ Needs for Information, Services, and Social Inclusion During COVID-19

Abstract

Older adults are in triple jeopardy during COVID-19: compared with younger people, older adults are (1) more likely to develop serious conditions and experience higher mortality;(2) less likely to obtain high quality information or services online; and (3) more likely to experience social isolation and loneliness. Hybrid solutions, coupling online and offline strategies, are invaluable in ensuring the inclusion of vulnerable populations. Most of these solutions require no new inventions. Finding the financial resources for a rapid, wellcoordinated implementation is the biggest challenge. Setting up the requisite support systems and digital infrastructure is important for the present and future pandemics.

Perceptions, feelings, and the routine of older adults during the isolation period caused by the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study in four countries

“…Although studies already addressed the older population in the COVID-19 pandemic and the repercussions of social isolation in their health (Levi-Belz & Aisenberg, 2020), few researchers have addressed this issue from a qualitative perspective (Lee, 2020;Xie et al, 2020). Up to this point, no other study analyzed, from a broader perspective, the repercussions of the isolation, taking into account the different cultures and societies, as is the case of older adults who live in different countries.…”

A Double Burden of Exclusion? Digital and Social Exclusion of Older Adults in Times of COVID-19

“…A recent U.S. survey from March, 2020 found that only 20% of individuals aged 65 and older living in the community reported participating in an online social gathering or virtual party with friends or family ( Vogels, 2020 ). Non-participation in the digital world may lead older adults to feel social exclusion during times of physical distancing ( Xie et al, 2020 ).…”

Telemedicine in Long-Term Care Facilities During and Beyond COVID-19: Challenges Caused by the Digital Divide

“…However, older adults are less likely than younger people to be able to take advantage of the opportunities enabled by modern information and communication technology (ICT) or telemedicine (10)(11)(12)(13)(14). Older adults living in LTCFs often (a) opt not to use the internet, (b) cannot afford internet access or ICT devices, (c) lack technical solutions with which to use telemedicine to connect virtually with doctors or other health professionals, (d) have physical or cognitive limitations that may limit possible telemedicine use or prevent them from using telemedicine at all without assistance, and (e) lack the skills to use ICT or telemedicine even if they do have access (9,11,(15)(16)(17)(18). Furthermore, the institutional may prevent the individual use of telemedicine; for example, individual use may depend on internet availability, ICT access, and telemedicine tools/software at a given facility.…”