Older adults and mobile technology: Factors that enhance and inhibit utilization in the context of behavioral health

Abstract

While numbers and proportions of older adults with behavioral health issues are expected to substantially increase, there is also a widening gap in available services for older adults. Mobile health interventions (mhealth) are a way to address existing barriers to treatment, provide frontline assessment and increase access to services for older adults. Due to perpetuated stereotypes, many assume that older adults do not utilize mobile technology nor will they accept a mHealth intervention. The purpose of this paper is to synthesize contemporary literature from information technology and healthcare regarding: (1) current mobile technology utilization by older adults, particularly in regards to health; (2) factors affecting older adult motivation to engage with mobile technology; and (3) older adult preferences for interacting with mobile technology. Findings reveal that significant proportions of older adults: already utilize mobile technology; are willing to engage in existing mobile interventions for health reasons; and have positive attitudes overall towards mobile technology. Finally, recommendations for optimizing mobile interventions to better suit older adults with behavioral health problems are reviewed.

Veterans’ Attitudes Toward Smartphone App Use for Mental Health Care: Qualitative Study of Rurality and Age Differences

“…To explore potential age-related patterns within the data, the sample was divided into older (≥50, n=25) versus younger (<50, n=41) age groups based on the literature demonstrating that cognitive and physical changes influencing technology use can begin by the age of 50 [19,21,36,37]. Rural status was determined using Rural Urban Commuting Area (RUCA) codes [38], a classification system that uses the Bureau of Census urbanized area and urban cluster definitions as well as commuting patterns to classify census tracts into 33 distinct subdivisions, which typically are consolidated into 4 categories (1) Urban areas with metropolitan cores of at least 50,000 residents and substantial commuting flow patterns to urbanized areas; (2) Large rural towns with micropolitan cores with a population of 10,000-49,999 and substantial commuting patterns to urban clusters; (3) Small rural towns with primary commuting flows to or within population centers of between 2500 and 9999 residents; and (4) Isolated rural towns, defined as less populated rural areas with no commuting flows to urbanized areas or urban clusters.…”

Technology use and preferences for mental health self‐management interventions among older veterans

“…8 Taken together, these factors underscore a need to offer alternative methods of delivering mental health care for older adult populations, such as self-management. 16,17 Digital mental health interventions, such as Internet and mobile app-based interventions, can address geographical, mobility, and provider-shortage barriers, as they may be used as self-management or with varying levels of provider or peer support. [10][11][12][13] In particular, interest in mental health self-management interventions has grown with the wide-scale adoption and use of technologies capable of delivering these interventions.…”

“…While technology-delivered interventions may increase access to mental health care, 14,15 older adults are often omitted from this research due to barriers to accessing technology and sampling bias that may reflect ageist stereotypes of older adults' interest in technology. 16,17 Digital mental health interventions, such as Internet and mobile app-based interventions, can address geographical, mobility, and provider-shortage barriers, as they may be used as self-management or with varying levels of provider or peer support. 18 These interventions may be used anonymously, discreetly, and usually at no to minimal cost, benefiting individuals who may be reluctant to seek treatment.…”

Monitoring Older Adults’ Health Information Using Mobile Technology: A Systematic Literature Review

“…The type of technology most used to monitor the health of older people is the smartphone, which incorporates sensors such as accelerometers, GPS or applications that can facilitate the health management of this population in the detection of daily activities [45,53], detection of falls or fragility [47]. In fact, mobile phones are the technology most used by older adults for browsing or consulting health information [4].…”

“…The ubiquity of mobile technologies has made it possible to deliver health interventions through them, e.g., enabling patients to manage their health, communicate with health care providers, schedule appointments, and access health information [2,3]. Older adults, especially, are a group of users who could benefit from the use of these interventions, as they are more likely to have chronic health conditions [4,5].…”