Quality of life: Conceptual challenges in exploring the role of ICT in active ageing

The chapter aims to examine the definitional challenges associated with the term quality of life, measurement challenges, the challenges associated with enhancing quality of life, and the role of information and communication technologies (ICT) in quality of life in old age, and finally comments on the challenges of a modern information society for older people. The term quality of life started as a social scientific index of the relative well-being of whole populations, i.e. the state of states. Nowadays quality of life is more likely to be viewed as an individualized aspect of the modern psyche. This shift in conceptualization is problematic in that, if quality of life is individualized, it cannot be meaningful to assess it in the same way for everyone. Nevertheless, over the years a vast range of methods of measuring quality of life has emerged, leading to several measurement challenges. Wealth, health and social relations have all been found to be prime determinants of subjective quality of life; for ICT to enhance quality of life for older people they need to mediate the relationships between these three important factors and quality of life. To date there is relatively little evidence that ICT has improved the quality of life of older people. Suggestions are made as to why ICT is unlikely to influence life quality for older citizens. The chapter is drawn to a close by asking if quality of life is a meaningless term and if the future is bleak for old people in a modern information society. The answer to both questions is no

Achieving digital inclusion of older adults through interest-driven curriculums

One outcome of increased life expectancy is that older adults are leading active lives in their third age as they seize opportunities to learn new skills, pursue new interests and hobbies to challenge themselves. However, there are many misconceptions about older adults’ capabilities and aspirations, especially their attitudes towards technology. They are often misunderstood and seen to lack interest and motivation in the use of technology. Thus, this article examines interest-driven curriculums in order to achieve digital inclusion for older adults. Investigation methodology into this dilemma was best served with a mixed methods approach because, to date, there has been very little research about how technology could support older adults’ interests. The majority of the existing studies consulted were focused on school children in a classroom setting. Older adults can differ greatly in their general background and level of technical experience and knowledge. Consequently, it would be very difficult to conduct quantitative research with control groups to investigate single variables. In compensation, 131 older adults, five staff members and eight teachers participated in this study. Qualitative methods such as observations and interviews (one-on-one and focus group) provided a deeper insight into teachers’ experiences and teaching. Older adults were not always able to articulate their attitudes and problems with technology and consequently, observations were often a more effective means of data gathering. Finally, an Action Research approach was taken to trialling the concepts developed in the course of the investigation. This research comprised of four studies looked at expanding and extending on The Four-Phase Model of Interest Development by Hidi and Renninger (2006). The results show that when older adults are taught according to requests based on their pre-existing interests, it encourages long-term engagement of technology and ability to integrate technology into their everyday lives, thereby achieving digital inclusion amongst older adults

Investigating the adoption and use of smartphones in the UK : a silver-surfers perspective

Copyright and all rights therein are retained by the authors. All persons copying this information are expected to adhere to the terms and conditions invoked by each author's copyright. These works may not be re-posted without the explicit permission of the copyright holdersSmart phones are innovations that currently provide immense benefits and convenience to users in society. However, not all members of society are accepting and using smart phones; more specifically, for this research study silver-surfers or older adults (50+) are a demographic group displaying such an attitude. Currently, there is minimal knowledge of the reasons for older adults adopting and using smartphones. Bearing this in mind, this research study aims to investigate the adoption and usage behaviours of silver-surfers. For this purpose, the conceptual framework applied to this research draws factors from the following theories: Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), the Diffusion of Innovations theory (DoI), and TAM3 (Technology Acceptance Model). From the online survey of 204 completed replies it was found that observability, compatibility, social influence, facilitating conditions, effort expectancy and enjoyment are important to the adoption and use of smartphones within silver-surfers. The contributions of this research are an identification and understanding of the factors that encourage or inhibit smartphone use within the older adult population. Second, this research can inform the design of computing devices and applications used for silver-surfers. Finally, this research can enlighten policy makers when forming decisions that encourage adoption and use of smartphones among silver surfersFinal Published versio

The digital age project: strategies that enable older social housing residents to use the internet

Provides insights into the factors affecting technology adoption for older and disadvantaged people, and provides training and interface guidelines and a potential model for other public housing communities to become more digitally aware. Research Aims The experience of social housing communities in countries like the United Kingdom suggests that while access to digital infrastructure and equipment is important, access alone does not equate to digital inclusion. The aim of this research was two-fold, namely to: Understand the impact of access to and use of the internet, within a community of potentially vulnerable consumers; and, Determine the strategies that may assist people living in public housing communities to become more digitally aware and enable them to take advantage of online services such as health, government, news, shopping and methods of online communication. The research also sought to determine what benefits may flow from information technology skills to perceptions of social connectedness, self-efficacy, resilience, health and well-being. Given that people with low levels of computer literacy typically face greater risk of cognitive overload in attempting to learn new technologies, the principles and guidelines from Cognitive Load Theory were applied to training materials and activities to minimise cognitive load and thereby facilitate learning. The research was designed with a view to providing important insights into the factors affecting technology adoption for older and disadvantaged people, as well as providing training and interface guidelines and a potential model for other public housing communities to become more digitally aware

Skaitmeninis vyresnio amžiaus žmonių įsitraukimas Lietuvoje: barjerai ir pagalbos galimybės

While Lithuania advances rapidly in the ICT sector, a digital divide persists among older adults. A study of 289 elderly Internet users highlighted key barriers and facilitators in digital engagement. Motivation stemmed from personal qualities like curiosity and past work experience with digital tools. Major barriers included language challenges, technical jargon, limited support, device comprehension issues, and emotional factors. Formal and informal training, peer support, gaming‘s role, and family, particularly younger members, emerged as crucial learning aids. The study underscores the need for strategies tailored to enhance digital inclusion of older people in Lithuania.Lietuvoje informacinių komunikacinių technologijų (IKT) sparti kaita vyksta paraleliai su gana dideliu vyresnio amžiaus žmonių skaitmeninio dalyvavimo atotrūkiu. Remiantis Kebede ir kt. (2022) apibendrintu teoriniu modeliu, straipsnyje siekta ištirti vyresnio amžiaus žmonių skaitmeninio įsitraukimo kliūtis ir jį lengvinančius veiksnius. Buvo atlikta vyresnio amžiaus interneto vartotojų nereprezentatyvi internetinė apklausa (N=289). Remiantis tyrimo rezultatais, asmeninės savybės, tokios kaip smalsumas ir ryžtas, buvo didžiausia paskata mokytis IKT. Ankstesnė darbo su skaitmeninėmis priemonėmis patirtis palengvino jų naudojimą vyresniame amžiuje. Tyrimo duomenų analizė parodė, kad dominuojančios kliūtys naudotis IKT susijusios su reflektyvios motyvacijos ir galimybių kategorijomis. Anglų kalbos nemokėjimas ir techninio žargono nesupratimas buvo pagrindinės kliūtys. Kiti reikšmingi barjerai – ribota techninė pagalba, įrenginių veikimo principų supratimo problemos, mentorystės trūkumas. Emocinės kliūtys, tokios, kaip klaidų baimė, nesaugumas ir mokymosi sunkumai, taip pat kėlė iššūkių. Skaitmeninį įtrauktumą skatinančių veiksnių analizė atskleidė formalaus ir neformalaus mokymo svarbą, bendraamžių pagalbos, žaidimų vaidmenį mokyme. Šeima, ypač vaikai ir anūkai, vaidino esminį vaidmenį mokantis. Nors asmeninė motyvacija yra svarbus veiksnys, išoriniai ištekliai ir parama yra būtini. Tyrime pabrėžiamas vyresnio amžiaus žmonėms pritaikytų strategijų poreikis, siekiant gerinti skaitmeninę įtrauktį Lietuvoje

Easiness, usefulness and intention to use a MOOC in nursing

Background: The growing ageing population and the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases call for innovation and healthcare mastered professional skills. Emerging digital learning contents envisioning to complement education, lifelong learning and in-service training. The use of digital platforms allows nurses to access contents in several formats, enabling the required pedagogical autonomy and personal time management. This allows nurses to enrol in education wherever accessible, reducing personal and professional costs and ensuring high-quality standards. Objectives: To assess students and nurses’ easiness, usefulness and intention to use a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) as an educational resource to enhance self-management intervention skills in COPD patients. Methods: An exploratory, descriptive and transversal study was conducted. Participants were nursing students, registered nurses and rehabilitation nurses. A questionnaire supported by Davis Technology Acceptance Model and on the determinants of the ease-of-use perception of Venkatesh was applied. An EFA was performed and two dimensions were obtained (perceived easiness and global quality of the course and perceived usefulness and intention to use the MOOC) and groups were compared in these dimensions. Results: From the total participants (n = 93), 65.6% were nursing students, 15.1% were Portuguese nurses and 19.4% were Portuguese rehabilitation nurses. The perceived easiness and global quality score of the course were 4.70 (SD = 0.314) and the perceived usefulness and intention to use the MOOC was 4.73 (SD = 0.346). Rehabilitation nurses, who are older, scored higher than nurses and students (χ2(2, n = 93) = 8.43, p = .015, ε2 = 0.092). The dropout rate was 25%. Conclusions: The MOOC showed usefulness and nurses’ intention to use this educational resource in future education and yielded high average rates of perceived easiness and global quality. These massive courses unlock new opportunities for nursing education and to lifelong learning in nursing, enhancing safety and quality of the healthcare services in supporting patients to achieve a better quality of life.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Older Professionals’ Adaptation to New Information Technologies: A Study in the Context of Non-Standard Employment

Modern workplaces are increasingly reliant on information technologies (IT), which have begun to profoundly affect the technological adaptation behaviors of older workers. Despite globally increasing levels of professional older adult workforce participation and workplace technology use, research in this space is only emerging, particularly in the context of non-standard employment (NSE), work falling outside traditional labor agreements, increasingly adopted by older workers. Using the Self Determination Theory, this qualitative work aims to understand the factors that contribute to professional older workers adaptation to new ITs in NSE. We propose a theoretical framework to explain our findings, suggesting that older professionals’ adaptation to new ITs in NSE are motivated by competence, relatedness and autonomy and moderated by perceived occupational value, IT support, IT-based frustration and generational differences. Our findings offer a comprehensive understanding of motivational dynamics in our research phenomena

Evolving reablement through occupational perspectives and welfare technology in home care

Rationale: Sweden is encountering dual societal challenges characterised by a rapidly ageing population and a diminishing home care workforce, leading to strained resources, which potentially can impact the quality of care. This situation poses a considerable risk to the health and overall well-being of older adults and home care staff. Innovative strategies are necessary to restructure the provision of home care services that promote healthy ageing and enable older adults to age in place. Reablement, as a rehabilitation approach, is recognized in other countries but is relatively new in Sweden. However, despite increased research, knowledge gaps and ambiguities persist regarding reablement’s theoretical foundation and key components. This knowledge is needed to increase transferability and facilitate successful implementations, thereby advancing the evolution of reablement. Aim: This thesis aims to contribute to the evolution of reablement in home care, using theory, occupational perspectives, and welfare technology to promote healthy ageing in place. Method: The four studies included in this thesis applied various methods to gain knowledge about different perspectives and prerequisites for reablement to evolve. Study I applied a quantitative approach where a questionnaire was sent out to 467 home care staff containing questions about their perceived psychosocial work environment and job strain. Data was analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Study II is a quasi-experimental, mixedmethod feasibility study of the reablement program ASSIST 1.0. Seven older adults and three home care staff participated in the program, and ten older adults participated in the control group and received ordinary home care. Quantitative data from clinical outcome measures were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics, and interviews and field notes were transcribed and analysed according to a qualitative content analysis. Study III is a qualitative study containing nine interviews conducted with the three home care staff involved in ASSIST 1.0 to explore how theories and concepts can evolve the understanding of reablement. The interviews were analysed with Braun & Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis. Study IV applies a mixed-method design to evaluate the usability and user experience of an information and communication technology system within a home care organization. Quantitative data consisted of test-based usability assessments and self-reported questionnaires, analysed with descriptive statistics. Qualitative data consisted of transcribed material from one focus group interview with six home care staff and three individual interviews with managers from the home care agency. Conclusion: The outcomes from the four studies lay the foundation for the discussion of this thesis, focusing on current reablement discourses and delving into three areas contributing to the evolution of reablement. The first two areas critically reflect on theories that can underpin reablement, strengthen the person-centred and holistic approach, and discuss why and how occupational perspectives can provide new outlooks for reablement. Combined, these two areas contribute to an evolved definition of reablement. The third area addresses why welfare technology is essential for enhancing the interprofessional and person-centred approach in reablement. Finally, it is proposed why reablement should be implemented in Sweden, advocating for a change in policies and guidelines for how home care can be reconstructed to facilitate healthy ageing in place

Gamificação e cicloturismo sénior : design de uma app para a comunidade miOne

As the aging population continues to grow, there has been an increasing interest in the subject of gerontechnology. In the specific case of the digital game industry, senior citizens are becoming better consumers due to their purchasing power and free time, so it is important to focus on the role of games to their wellbeing and meet their needs and preferences. However, there is a general lack of information and products that address physical exercise in the interrelationship of cycling, tourism, games, gamification and senior citizens. The aim of this research is to understand the way gamification interventions can motivate senior citizens to adhere to cyclo-tourism. This dissertation reports on the use of the Development Research Method, deploying a broad array of methods, including focus groups, eye-tracking and interviews. A total of 46 participants (7 focus group participants, 8 participants in eye-tracking and 31 cyclists’ interviewees) were involved in this research. Based on the literature review, related work and the insights from each method, a cyclo-tourism digital app entitled Jizo was co-designed and prototyped. Findings indicate that certain gamification techniques and elements can trigger senior citizens’ motivations towards cyclo-tourism, being essential integrative parts of a digital app in this context. The elements highlighted were social relationships, progression, challenges, competition, feedback and rewards, having an important role in pre-, in loco and post- experience. These data support the view on gamification capability to motivate senior cyclo-tourism.Com o contínuo crescimento do envelhecimento da população, tem havido um interesse progressivo na área da gerontecnologia. No caso específico da indústria dos jogos digitais, os cidadãos seniores fazem parte de um grupo de consumidores com poder de compra e tempo livre, pelo que é essencial compreender o papel dos jogos digitais no seu bem-estar e atender às suas necessidades e preferências. No entanto, continua a prevalecer uma falta de informação e de produtos que abordam o exercício físico nas inter-relações entre o ciclismo, turismo, jogos, gamificação e cidadãos seniores. O objetivo desta investigação é compreender o uso de estratégias de gamificação para motivar os cidadãos seniores a aderirem ao cicloturismo. Esta dissertação reporta a utilização do Método de Investigação de Desenvolvimento, tendo como base os seguintes métodos: grupos de discussão, eye-tracking e entrevistas. Um total de 46 participantes (7 participantes de grupos de discussão, 8 participantes de eye-tracking e 31 ciclistas entrevistados) foram envolvidos nesta investigação. Após a revisão da literatura, trabalho relacionado, e os resultados obtidos de cada método, procedeu-se ao co-design e prototipagem uma app de cicloturismo designada Jizo. Os resultados indicam que certas técnicas e elementos da gamificação podem desencadear as motivações dos cidadãos seniores para o cicloturismo, além de serem partes essenciais e integrantes de um aplicativo deste contexto. Os elementos destacados foram as relações sociais, progressão, desafios, competição, feedback e recompensas, na medida em que eles têm um papel importante na pré, in loco e na pós-experiência. Estes dados suportam a ideia da capacidade da gamificação para motivar o cicloturismo sénior.Mestrado em Comunicação Multimédi

The experience of being an older worker in an organization: a qualitative analysis

This qualitative study with 37 older workers from ten employing organizations in two countries (United Kingdom and Bulgaria) and two industrial sectors (healthcare and ICT) identifies key themes around workers’ conceptualizations of being an older worker and aging at work, and the types of organizational support they considered most beneficial in late career. The study integrates current fragmented theories around work performance and well-being in late career and also introduces new concepts in this context. We find that overall older workers are likely to view their late career more in terms of development than decline. This is reflected in their positive perceptions of themselves and their conceptualizations of beneficial age-related changes such as ability to see the big picture and freedom to speak frankly. Many of these stem from their accumulated knowledge and experiences, and valuing meaning and contribution over career advancement. Whilst some concern with coping and getting by is evident (we call this surviving), interviewees were able to articulate many ways in which they felt they were thriving (Porath et al., 2012) at work. We identify nine types of organizational support perceived by these older workers as most desirable (whether or not available). Four concern intrinsic features of work, three are to do with social integration and respect, and two concern extrinsic factors. Hence there is much that organizations can do apart from retirement programs and flexible work options to enable workers in late career to thrive and survive