Older People Going Online: Its Value and Before-After Evaluation of Volunteer Support

Abstract

BackgroundAlthough Internet usage can benefit older people by reducing social isolation, increasing access to services, and improving health and well-being, only a minority are online. Barriers to Internet uptake include attitude and a lack of knowledge and help. We have evaluated volunteer support in helping older people go online. Knowing what value the Internet has been to older people who have just gone online should guide how it is “sold” to those remaining offline.ObjectiveObjectives of this study are (1) to assess the feasibility of recruiting volunteers aged 50 years and older and supporting them in helping people (ie, beneficiaries) aged 65 years and older go online, (2) to assess the impact of beneficiaries using the Internet on contacts with others, loneliness, and mental health, and (3) to assess the perceived value to beneficiaries of going online.MethodsBeneficiaries received help in using the Internet from 32 volunteers in one of two ways: (1) one-on-one in their own homes, receiving an average of 12 hours of help over eight visits, or (2) in small group sessions, receiving 12 hours of help over six visits. We assessed, at registration and follow-up, the number of contacts with others, using Lubben’s 6-item Lubben Social Network Scale (LBNS-6), loneliness, using De Jong Gierveld’s 6-item De Jong Gierveld loneliness scale (DJG-6), and mental well-being, using Tennant’s Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS). We also assessed how beneficiaries valued going online using a Social Return on Investment (SROI) approach by postal survey.ResultsA total of 144 beneficiaries were recruited with the aim of helping them go online via one-on-one (n=58) or small group (n=86) sessions. Data through to follow-up were available on 76.4% (110/144) of participants. From baseline to follow-up, the number of contacts with others was significantly increased—LBNS-6, mean 13.7 to mean 17.6—loneliness scores were reduced—DJG-6, mean 2.38 to mean 1.80—and mental well-being improved—SWEMWBS, mean 24.06 to mean 24.96. Out of six options, beneficiaries valued better communication with family and friends most and better health care least as a benefit of using the Internet. Out of nine options, having the Internet was valued less than having TV, but more than, for example, having a weekly visit from a cleaner. There were no associations between values placed on Internet use or volunteer help and psychological improvements.ConclusionsVolunteer help to go online seemed to result in increased social contacts, reduced loneliness, and improved mental well-being and was valued quite highly by beneficiaries. Although the use of the Internet for health care was the least valued, improved social contact can improve health. Contacting family is likely to be the best “selling point” of the Internet for older people.

Development and Evaluation of a Mobile Application Suite for Enhancing the Social Inclusion and Well-Being of Seniors

“…This improvement can only be considered as indicative and we cannot confirm causality due to the limited size of the sample, duration of the pilot and depth of the statistical analysis. However, there is evidence in the literature that the use of social networking systems can have a positive effect on decreasing loneliness among the elderly [61,62]. The feedback derived from the interviews with the seniors provided similar qualitative evidence.…”

Computer‐mediated communication and social support among community‐dwelling older adults: A systematic review of cross‐sectional data

“…Most (n = 15) studies were conducted in Western countries, with two studies from China. All but two studies were cross‐sectional in design, with one cohort study and one randomised control trial …”

“…Samples ranged in size from small pilot programs training older adults in the use of computer‐mediated communication to large‐scale dedicated surveys (see Table ). The pooled average age was 74.2 (SD = 7.1), with the majority of participants being male and married and/or cohabitating with another (eg family member and housemate) (see Table ).…”

“…On average, participants across the 17 included studies identified relatively high levels of social support and connectedness, with the exception of one study where mean ratings were below the mid‐point of available scores on the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS)—considered a promising measure of computer‐mediated communication‐related social engagement . Ten standardised scales were utilised, most commonly the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and Social Provisions Scale (SPS).…”

“…However, the intensity of computer‐mediated communication varied. Five studies targeted daily use, in comparison with weekly, monthly or even yearly use . In two studies, participants reported a particularly low level of usage, many using computer‐mediated communication a few times a year or less .…”