Barbara Barbosa Neves and Frank Vetere, eds. Ageing and Digital Technology: Designing and Evaluating Emerging Technologies for Older Adults. Singapore: Springer, 2019. [Book review]

Ageing and Digital Technology: Designing and Evaluating Emerging Technologies for Older Adults, edited by Barbara Barbosa Neves and Frank Vetere, is a collection of 18 papers that describe the complexity of research and praxis of information and communication technologies co-design, implementation, evaluation, acceptance, and use by older adults. The book acknowledges the worldwide demographic trends of population ageing and technologization as well as the challenges and opportunities that they bring to societies. Digital technologies can potentially contribute to the well-being and quality of life, prolong and facilitate ageing in place, assist with physical and mental impairments, and, on the other hand, technology nonuse or lower use can be detrimental and lead to exclusion. The positive impact of technologies depends on the success and effectiveness of the design and its implementation, which are phenomena for interdisciplinary examination. This book is a unique integration of multiple fields including computer science, social sciences, engineering, and architecture, united together in an attempt to produce multisided knowledge on designing and tailoring the innovative digital devices, robots, websites, and services to the diverse needs and aspirations of older adults.Non peer reviewe

Digital (Dis)Engagement in Older Age : Determinants and Outcomes

Information and communication technology (ICT) hold the promise of improving the quality of life of older people and of increasing the accessibility of public services for them. The chapter aims at distinguishing the predictors of ICT increased or decreased use specifically for older adults and outlining the potential outcomes that it can bring. To achieve it, the concept of digital (dis)engagement is viewed in relation to the non-digital engagement, the concept of digital divides is defined and the literature on digital divides predictors is reviewed. The discussion section states the gaps in literature and possibilities for future research

Personal experiences of digital public services access and use : Older migrants’ digital choices

This paper presents a study of the personal experiences of older migrants as they use digital technologies and electronic services. Focusing primarily on digital health and social services, the aim of this research is to gain a better understanding of the digital divide at a micro-level. The concept of digital choice is used to analyse the personal decisions that lead to an engagement with digital technologies and internet services or a disengagement from online tools. A qualitative case study of Russian-speaking migrants in Finland utilised participant observation, interviews, and diaries to gain insights into the adoption of digital public services from the user perspective. This paper contributes to the view of digital engagement as a complex and multifaceted process that involves socio-demographic determinants, as well as individual agency and social context. The key findings of this study show that individual efforts and personal attributes, such as habits, sense of trust, and fears, play critical roles in shaping digital engagement. The context of ongoing digitalisation in the public sphere is discussed as an important push factor influencing the research participants’ adoption and use of digital services.Peer reviewe

‘I am the king of that table’ : Ethnographic Study of the Immigrant Integration at the Workplace

Abstract The Finnish Integration law is directed to support immigrants’ active participation in society, support equality and interaction of different population groups with each other. In this paper I discuss that in fact it is directed to assistance in finding employment overlooking the very essential part of integration process that begins after the start of working life. The question of how integration proceeds after this point is answered through the ethnographic case study of International Corporation logistics department with the focus on immigrant and native employees’ communication. The results can be divided into two parts, firstly concerning the immigrants’ precarious position, secondly, the specificity of their communication with Finnish nationals. Studying the context of the immigrant integration, I discovered that immigrants have a rather economically vulnerable position. The structure of logistics department determines the unfavourable conditions of their employment, offering only part-time job opportunities. Discrepancy between working hours set by the employment contract and those actually worked every month makes the income highly unpredictable. This inconsistency as well as hourly-based payment system put employees in a position of constant struggle to increase their income, and set the high flexibility requirement. Moreover, the welfare benefits unequal distribution is discussed as a factor of immigrant precarization. Study of the immigrant and native employees’ communication has shown the existence of boundary between them that is maintained and reinforced by the actors themselves through ascription and self-ascription processes. Immigrant employees, experiencing communication difficulties with Finnish nationals within their department and with other departments, have a detached and segregated position in the Corporation. In the context of immigrant economic and social vulnerability the full participation in the society of the host country could hardly be achieved. Recommendations were elaborated concerning defining the integration concept in official documents and concerning possible improvements in the studied corporation

Ikääntyvät venäjänkieliset ja ylirajainen terveyspalveluiden käyttö

Tutkimme Suomessa asuvien ikääntyvien venäjänkielisten ylirajaista terveyspalvelujen käyttöä ja käytön syitä. Analysoimme vuonna 2019 kerättyä CHARM-kyselyaineistoa ja syvennämme tuloksia haastatteluaineiston temaattisen analyysin avulla. Lähes 30 prosenttia yli 50-vuotiaista Suomessa asuvista venäjänkielisistä oli käynyt kyselyä edeltävän vuoden aikana Suomen ulkopuolella lääkärissä. Ulkomailla lääkärissä käynti oli yleisempää naisilla, työttömillä, korkeasti koulutetuilla sekä vastaajilla, joiden kotitalouden nettotulot olivat yli 2 500 euroa kuukaudessa. Kansalaisuus jossain muussa maassa kuin Suomessa lisäsi käytön todennäköisyyttä ja pidempi asumisaika Suomessa puolestaan vähensi sitä. Eläminen kroonisen sairauden kanssa sekä täyttämätön hoidontarve olivat yhteydessä ylirajaiseen palveluiden käyttöön. Kyselyaineistossa tärkeimmiksi syiksi palveluiden ylirajaiselle käytölle nousivat halvempi hinta, nopeampi hoitoon pääsy ja omankieliset palvelut. Haastatteluaineistossa esiintyivät nämä samat syyt, mutta esiin nousivat myös koetut pettymykset suomalaisessa terveydenhuollossa. Tulokset osoittavat, että ikääntyvät venäjänkieliset kohtaavat monenlaisia esteitä hoitoon pääsylle ja toimivalle hoidolle Suomessa. Sivuutetuksi tulemisen kokemukset ja väärinymmärrykset voivat johtaa avun hakemiseen Suomen ulkopuolelta. Terveyspalvelujen laatua ja saavutettavuutta tulisi kehittää vastaamaan moninaistuvan ikääntyvän väestön tarpeita.Peer reviewe

Towards digital health equity - a qualitative study of the challenges experienced by vulnerable groups in using digital health services in the COVID-19 era

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has given an unprecedented boost to already increased digital health services, which can place many vulnerable groups at risk of digital exclusion. To improve the likelihood of achieving digital health equity, it is necessary to identify and address the elements that may prevent vulnerable groups from benefiting from digital health services. This study examined the challenges experienced by vulnerable groups in using digital health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Qualitative descriptive design was utilized. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between October 2020 and May 2021. The participants (N = 74) were older adults, migrants, mental health service users, high users of health services, and the unemployed. Qualitative content analysis with both inductive and deductive approach was used to analyze the data. Challenges related to the use of digital health services were interpreted through digital determinants of health from the Digital Health Equity Framework. Results For most of the participants the access to digital health services was hampered by insufficient digital, and / or local language skills. The lack of support and training, poor health, as well as the lack of strong e-identification or suitable devices also prevented the access. Digital services were not perceived to be applicable for all situations or capable of replacing face-to-face services due to the poor communication in the digital environment. Fears and the lack of trust regarding digital platforms were expressed as well as concerns related to the security of the services. Contact with a health care professional was also considered less personal and more prone to misunderstandings in the digital environment than in face-to-face services. Finally, digital alternatives were not always available as desired by participants, or participants were unaware of existing digital services and their value. Conclusion Several development needs in the implementation of digital health services were identified that could improve equal access to and benefits gained from digital services in the future. While digital health services are increasing, traditional face-to-face services will still need to be offered alongside the digital ones to ensure equal access to services.Peer reviewe

Self-identified barriers to health services among migrants 50 years of age or older: population-based survey study of Russian speakers in Finland

The compounded effect of a migratory background and ageing increases the risk of unequal medical treatment opportunities. The aim of this article is to investigate the social determinants of barriers to health services. The study uses population-based survey data of Russian-speaking migrants (50 + years) residing in Finland (n = 1082, 57% of men, mean age 63 years). Multiple correspondence analysis was performed as a dimension reduction procedure on six barriers to health services. Multiple ordinary least-squares linear regression was used for the predicted score of the barriers as an outcome variable. Most of the sociodemographic characteristics were not associated with barriers to health services, except gender, as women tended to face more disadvantages. Migration-related factors, such as the need for interpreters for health services and experienced discrimination, were associated with an increased likelihood of reporting barriers to health services. Using the internet as a primary source of health information was associated with more access barriers to health services. Migrants 50 years of age or older face multiple barriers to health services. Given that the healthcare needs increase with age, addressing this issue becomes crucial, necessitating improved access to health services for older migrants