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.

The Relevance of Diet, Physical Activity, Exercise, and Persuasive Technology in the Prevention and Treatment of Sarcopenic Obesity in Older Adults

“…Furthermore, when designing technology for long term adherence by older adults, personal influential factors as digital competency and attitude toward digital solutions need to be taken into consideration (89). Although the majority of older adults have a positive attitude toward eHealth, not all older adults own a smartphone or are able to the device in its full potential (114). With the rise of adoption rate of smartphones among older adults, the non-adoption group might become smaller over the years (83).…”

“…Furthermore, visual impairments and reduced fine motor skills become more present as the age rises. These personal age-related factors are not fully taken into consideration in current applications (114). Even so, when eHealth is used in a proper, individualized and, safe way, older adults seem to have a positive attitude toward digital technology (116), which offers opportunities to develop eHealth applications to improve physical activity, exercise and dietary intake in a sustainable manner (82).…”

Relationships between the Older Adult’s Cognitive Decline and Quality of Life: The Mediating Role of the Assistive Mobile Health Applications

“…Smartphone applications are beneficial as they can provide health services that can monitor health, as it provides interactive health services to patients, clinicians and caregivers for the self-management of predicted diseases (Holliday et al, 2015) and support self-management of chronic diseases (Hu et al, 2018) such as diabetes. Moreover, smartphone application (Saare, Ta'a, Lashari, & Sari, 2018) are low cost, thus, help older adults by providing an opportunity to alleviate the burden of primary health care of older adults (Elshourbagy, 2017) (Liu & Joines, 2012).But it is known that diabetes is common in the elderly population (Meneilly & Tessier, 2001). However, the success of any type of application depends on how well it is being used by the user i.e.…”

“…Thus, the present study is providing a framework which would systematically combine user characteristics such as diabetes and cognitive decline. Hence, providing a holistic view of older adult's low level of smartphone adoption by identifying the factors that are affecting the smartphone applications adoption and proposing a conceptual framework from an older adult perspective to improve quality of life (Petrovčič, Taipale, et al, 2018).This framework would provide guidance for usability specialists, product designers, interaction designers, product manufacturers and others involved in the design and development of user interfaces when seeking an ultimate design solution to support quality of life of older adults using assistive mobile health application (Liu & Joines, 2012).…”

Characteristics of online treatment seekers interested in a text messaging intervention for problem drinking: adults 51 and older versus middle-aged and younger adults

“…Text messaging interventions are currently utilized with older adults for medication adherence, appointment reminders, prescription refills [20,24,26–28] and specific medical conditions [29,30], and they demonstrate at least preliminary efficacy and consumer satisfaction, highlighting the promise of these technologies with older adults. Based on the success of SMS in engaging younger individuals in treatments traditionally associated with high levels of stigma (e.g.…”