Social Participation among the Elderly: Moderated Mediation Model of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

Researchers have identified social participation for the elderly as a salient activity that benefits their wellbeing. Along that vein, prior studies have reported that ICT use increases the extent to which the elderly participate socially with one another. However, the literature remains silent on the mechanisms by which ICT use leads to social participation. In this paper, we draw on two prominent IS theories, actor-network theory (ANT) and activity theory (AT), to develop a conceptual framework by incorporating four social participation-oriented factors: ICT use, social participation, social isolation, and loneliness. We used a quantitative approach based on the cross-sectional survey to collect data from 240 elderly people. We analyzed the data using structural equation modeling based on SmartPLS 3.0. We found that the size of the social network constituted the critical factor in the association between ICT use and social participation. The outcome of the model suggests that ICT use does not impact the social participation directly. Rather, social isolation (absence of social network) mediates the relationship between the ICT use and social participation. Additionally, loneliness, one of the commonly observed psychological states in the elderly, weakens the influence of ICT use on social isolation. Our research advances our theoretical understanding about social participation among seniors and helps governments and businesses prepare ICT plans for the elderly appropriately

Toward an Active Aging Society: An IT Model to Engage the Aging Population

© 2019 IEEE. Many countries around the world are expecting a growing number of elderly people as the society is aging over time. This shift is expected to create a large impact on the health and social security system. The cost of having an increasing proportion of elderly people is emerging as a challenge for governments, so much that many countries are encouraging their people to stay in the workforce longer. As a result, the aging population requires a solution that allows them to remain productive and keeping them mentally healthy. Existing solutions rely on the benefits of social networks or service networks to keep them active and improve mental health. However, these solutions fail to allow elderly people to act as a value contributor for the society. This paper proposes the design of a new model that allows elderly people to actively and collaboratively provide value to the society through an assistive platform that integrates a service network with a social network. This model combines the advantages of the social network to connect them and utilize the advantages of the service network to create opportunities for elderly people to offer their skills and knowledge to exchange benefits with other users. The proposed model can be used as a mean to engage seniors to the community, allowing them to generate value for themselves and the community while staying mentally healthy

An Investigation on Network Relationship of Elderly Nursing Home

All developed countries have been facing the trend of aging population and view it as an importance social policy which has to plan care and nurse senior citizens. The elderly caring and nursing organizations are obligated to provide more comfortable and suitable environment for a high quality life of elders. Based upon Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory, there is a hierarchy of five needs within each individual, including physiological needs, safety needs, belongingness and love Needs, self-esteem needs and self-actualization needs. Individuals would acquire emotional support, materiality and service through social network. This study investigates two main issues related to network relationship of elderly nursing home. First, this study demonstrates the network relationship between elderly nursing home and other related groups, including family and friends of elderly resident, exclusive volunteers, neighborhood community centre, religion groups and other welfare associations. Second, this study investigates what the network relationships would influence the satisfaction of five elderly residents’ needs. To better understanding the real connection among groups related to nursing home, this study uses case study with the perceptions of social network to know the network relationship in the nursing home and what it influences their residents’ needs

Social networks of older people in contemporary society

Modern society is a field of information exchange and communication. Therefore, people assume that it is easier nowadays for individuals to maintain their social networks. Internet technologies, mobile phones all we use on a daily basis to keep in touch with our loved ones. However, the situation looks different when we think about elderly people. It is not that easy for them to introduce technology in their lives. That is why the question stays open: is it easy for older people to stay in touch with their families and friends in contemporary world? In this article, we explore the social network of elderly people. We reveal how the opportunities for older people to lead an active social life have been changing throughout past century. The article explores the phenomena of the deliberate social network shrink, which happens when people retire, or starting to have health issues connected with ageing. Article also reveals new opportunities for extending social network of an elder person with non-kin participants

Ego-centered Support Networks: a Cross-national European Comparison

This contribution aims at comparing patterns of social support -provided and received- among the elderly population in European countries. Adopting an egocentered network perspective, by means of multivariate techniques for categorical data, we intend to map the ego-support network structures of the elderly, as well as ego-network functional content of provided and received support in the different countries. Individual and country socio-demographic characteristics will be also considered in interpreting results

Degree of satisfaction of elderly about the services provided to them in social care houses in White Beds Association

This study aims at identifying the degree of satisfaction of the elderly about the (social, health, entertainment, psychological) services provided to them in social care houses. The sample of the study includes all residents of the White Beds Association for the care of the elderly in Amman. The researcher designed a questionnaire to use in the interviews with the elderly. The questionnaire has four items, and each item includes a group of questions about the service provided to them. The researcher interviewed all the members of the White Beds Association, whose health condition allowed this, (75 elderly people: 44 men and 31 women). The data was analyzed and frequencies and percentages were extracted. The researcher used (Chi-Square) to detect any differences of the sample’s responses. The results showed an average satisfaction about the social services provided to the elderly in social institutions while the results showed a high level of satisfaction about the health and entertainment services provided to them. The researcher recommended the need to improve and develop social, health and entertainment services for the elderly in social institutions and to improve the network of social relations between workers and residents within these institutions, which positively reflects the psychological feeling of the elderly

A Study of Depression in Elderly Persons with Low Vision

Analysis of 67 elderly persons with low vision to determine if depression existed and to evaluate their social support networks was done by using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Measure. It was found that elderly patients with low vision are no more depressed than other groups provided they have a support network. It was also found that these patients were less depressed as a result of possessing a positive self-evaluation of their health. Finally, a support network will increase the likelihood that a positive self-evaluation of health will occur

地域における要支援・要介護高齢者のペット飼育に関する意義と課題(2)「喪失の語り」と「支援」をめぐる語り

In this study, the relationship between pets and elderly people who need care was examined through a narrative approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four elderly residents of Nobeoka City, Miyazaki, and with professionals who have the ability to support elderly people\u27s caring for pets (i.e. a social worker, home-care workers, a pet sitter and administrative officers). The interviewer asked about the relationship between the elderly people and their pets, specifically about any benefits or difficulties in their daily life. The results of the interviews revealed that even those elderly people who had lost their pets linked their own life stories to their pets, structuring them according to their relationship with their pets. In contrast, the professionals often emphasized the difficulties for elderly people in caring for pets. The study suggests that we need to construct a social support network, in particular, a `narrative community\u27 to listen attentively to elderly people\u27s narratives as a way of supporting the relationship between the elderly and their pets

Someone to rely on: the impact of social support on self-perceived health in Slovene elderly

Introduction: Aiming at highlighting the importance of social networking for health of elderly, the association between social support and self-perceived health (SPH) was assessed in Slovenia.Methods: Data from three consecutive cross-sectional surveys on health behaviour in Slovenia (2008, 2012 and 2016), for 4599 elderly, aged 65-75 years, were pooled. Association between poor SPH (PSPH) and social support (taking into account also existence of extended personal social network (EPSN)), adjusted for confounders, was analysed by multiple logistic regression.Results: The PSPH odds were statistically significantly higher in single/divorced without EPSN (OR=2.99; p=0.005) and single/divorced with EPSN (OR=1.49; p=0.053) in comparison to married with EPSN.Conclusion: Irrespective of gender, socio-economic status or health-related factors, elderly with low level of social support were more likely to perceive their health as poor/very poor. Public health measures to reduce isolation of elderly should be included in the action plan in the frame of the Longevity strategy

Scenarios for the Development of Elderly Education in Russia

The paper delves into the problem of mass education for senior citizens in Russia and assesses the capabilities of the country’s system of non-formal elderly education to overcome this problem. It proves the expediency to use the resources of the national education network in social management strategies aimed at increasing the educational level of the older generation. The research demonstrates that it is necessary to purposefully manage the national network of elderly education and forecast the outcome of such an influence. Having analyzed specialized elderly education projects, the authors identify the trends in the functioning of elderly education in Russia and establish the factors in its development. The study provides forecast scenarios for the development of elderly education. Summarizing the scenarios presented, it is worth noting that the government policy will have a decisive effect on the system of elderly education. Undoubtedly, education for senior citizens in Russia will undergo rapid development due to favorable conditions in the country