Does ICT Use matter? How information and communication technology use affects perceived mattering among a predominantly female sample of older adults residing in retirement communities

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

“…While ICT use has potential ramifications for maintaining social contact, data on ICT use in LTCFs remain rare, with a handful of notable exceptions ( Berkowsky et al, 2015 ; Cotten et al, 2017 ; Francis et al, 2019 ; Rikard et al, 2018 ; Seifert et al, 2017 ). For example, Seifert et al (2017) have shown that 14% of retirement home residents used the internet.…”

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

“…While modern ICT use (such as the use of the internet, smartphones, and tablets) in healthy older adults has increased precipitously in recent years, the situation differs for those with multiple medical comorbidities and functional impairments and those with advanced age who are the primary residents of LTCFs (19)(20)(21)(22)(23). Seifert and Cotten (19) showed in their 2019 study that 21% of retirement home residents used the internet, 13% used a smartphone, and 5% used a tablet.…”

“…Seifert and Cotten (19) showed in their 2019 study that 21% of retirement home residents used the internet, 13% used a smartphone, and 5% used a tablet. Compared with non-users, internet users within LTCFs were more likely to be younger, healthier, and more functionally unimpaired (23,24). The residents in this study (19) were also asked about their difficulties with modern technology with the statement, "Do you have difficulty operating modern technical devices?"…”

Potential mediators of the relationship between internet usage and cognition

“…A person's internet use might affect loneliness in at least two ways: It may allow people to use their time to be more productively engaged and thus enhance feelings of mattering; and internet access may improve a person's social connectivity by providing tools for strengthening their social networks, such as email, message boards for discussing shared interests with other people, social media, and video chatting. A study of nearly 200 people supported this argument by showing the use of ICT (Impacted Social Network Connectivity), which in turn impacted a sense of mattering (Francis et al, 2019). Additionally, the PRISM trial, which included 300 subjects, showed that the PRISM group manifested significant improvements in loneliness and social isolation (Czaja et al, 2018).…”