Technology Use by Older Adults and Barriers to Using Technology

Gitlow, Lynn

doi:10.3109/02703181.2014.946640

Cited by 138 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 5 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The perception of whether using an ICT has enough advantages and relevance to older adults is critical to their adoption of a certain technology (Selwyn, Gorard, Furlong, & Madden, 2003; Selwyn, 2004). In line with these, the lack of interest, cost, ergonomic impediments, complexity (Carpenter & Buday, 2007), and the lack of knowledge (Gitlow, 2014) are the main barriers for older adults to use new technologies. Age and gender moderated the relationship between perceived ease of use and attitudes towards using a tablet computer.…”

Section: Older Adults and New Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Getting Grandma Online: Are Tablets the Answer for Increasing Digital Inclusion for Older Adults in the U.S.?

Tsai

Shillair

Cotten

et al. 2015

Educational Gerontology

197

143

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Using information and communication technologies (ICTs) can improve older adults’ quality of life. ICT use is associated with decreased feelings of loneliness and depression, along with increased feelings of independence and personal growth. However, limited access and low technological self-efficacy are key reasons why some groups, especially older adults, are excluded from being fully engaged in the digital world. In this study, we focus on older adults’ technological self-efficacy, which is related to their actual use of technology and the second level digital divide. Specifically, we examine: 1) how older adults decide to use a new technology, tablet computers; 2) how they conquer the barrier of technological self-efficacy through using tablets; and 3) the impacts of using this new technology in their lives. Twenty-one in-depth interviews were conducted with older adults residing in independent living communities in a medium-sized city in the Deep South region of the United States. Observational and enactive learning played important roles for older adults in using tablets. Seeing others use tablets, getting recommendations from family members, or having tablets given to them were the primary reasons they started to use tablet computers. The ease of use feature of tablets helped solve the problem of lacking technological self-efficacy. Using tablets helped increase a sense of connectedness. Tablet computers may be one way to increase digital inclusion among older adults.

show abstract

Section: Older Adults and New Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Getting Grandma Online: Are Tablets the Answer for Increasing Digital Inclusion for Older Adults in the U.S.?

Tsai

Shillair

Cotten

et al. 2015

Educational Gerontology

197

143

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Not only has interest, cost, ergonomic impediments, and complexity constrained older adults' engagement with technology, but also the lack of knowledge has been found to be the main barrier (Gitlow, 2014). Furthermore, access to shopping or government services, for example, is becoming limited without an Internet connection or email address, and thus can prevent older adults from accessing certain services.…”

Section: Providing Leisure Education To Older Adultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring Community Inclusion in Older Adulthood through the Use of Computers and Tablets

Leonard

Hebblethwaite²

2017

TRJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…However, Heart and Kalderon (2013) reported the adoption of technology for health information is still very limited in the older population. While technology use in older adults is on the rise, researchers have identified several barriers to utilizing technology with older adults including lack of confidence with technology, the perception that it will be difficult to use, decreased attention span, decreased memory capabilities, and changes in vision (Gitlow, 2014;Vroman et al, 2015;Wallace et al, 2013). Older adults want to maintain control over their autonomy, but they are challenged by age-related physical and cognitive changes (Chaffin & Harlow, 2005).…”

Section: Technology and Older Adultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This use of technology does not fall under the definition of assistive technology in which both the technology device and service are focused on improving functional capabilities of the client (Goodrich & Garza, 2015). According to Gitlow (2014), technologies are becoming increasingly important parts of daily routines and occupations of our clients. It is therefore important for OT practitioners who work with clients across the lifespan to utilize their understanding of technology to help older adults participate in therapy interventions (Gitlow, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to Gitlow (2014), technologies are becoming increasingly important parts of daily routines and occupations of our clients. It is therefore important for OT practitioners who work with clients across the lifespan to utilize their understanding of technology to help older adults participate in therapy interventions (Gitlow, 2014). In the 2017 Eleanor Clarke Slagle Lecture, Roger Smith described technology as a fundamental and essential component of occupation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Instructing Students How to Use Evidence-based Technology Interventions with Older Adults

Tilstra

Webb

Groger

2019

JOTE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Current evidence supports the use of technology with older adults and the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education standards for entry-level occupational therapy programs mandate instruction on the use of technology to support occupational performance. The literature does not clearly define specific strategies to teach entry-level occupational therapy students how to implement technology interventions with older adults. The purpose of this paper is to provide OT educators with recommendations for teaching entry-level students to use evidence-based technology with older adults. The authors reviewed current literature. The recent evidence helped the authors define practical curriculum recommendations for instructing entry-level occupational therapy students to integrate technology into older adults' interventions. Recommendations include use of telehealth visits, teleconferencing, iPad applications, smart phone applications, texting, emails, and video applications. With technology continually changing, occupational therapy instructors must increase their awareness of new applications and computer programs that occupational therapists can utilize in older adult interventions to maximize knowledge translation to their students.

show abstract

Technology Use by Older Adults and Barriers to Using Technology

Cited by 138 publications

References 5 publications

Getting Grandma Online: Are Tablets the Answer for Increasing Digital Inclusion for Older Adults in the U.S.?

Getting Grandma Online: Are Tablets the Answer for Increasing Digital Inclusion for Older Adults in the U.S.?

Exploring Community Inclusion in Older Adulthood through the Use of Computers and Tablets

Instructing Students How to Use Evidence-based Technology Interventions with Older Adults

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About