Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Linking the lonely: an exploration of a communication technology designed to support social interaction among older adults

  • Long Paper
  • Published:
Universal Access in the Information Society Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article explores mixed methods data gathered from a pilot of a communication system prototype in the homes of 19 older adults over a period of 10 weeks. The system has been designed to enhance communication among both friends and strangers and has been developed as a possible tool to increase interaction in older adults suffering from social isolation and loneliness. The paper uses remote logging data to inform discussion of how such a technology was received and utilised over time in a home setting. Qualitative data gathered via entry and exit interviews, and weekly checkpoint calls were used to provide deeper insight into patterns and practices identified via the logs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Pinquart, M., Sorensen, S.: Influences on loneliness in older adults: a metaanalysis. Basic Appl. Soc. Psychol. 23(4), 245–266 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Victor, C., Scambler, S., Bond, J., Bowling, A.: Being alone in later life: loneliness, social isolation and living alone. Rev. Clin. Gerontol. 10, 407–417 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Tijhuis, M.A.R., de Jong-Gierveld, J., Feskens, E.J.M., Kromhout, D.: Changes in and factors related to loneliness in older men: the Zutphen Elderly Study. Age Ageing 28(5), 491–495 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Bowling, A.: The most important thing in life: comparisons between older and younger population age groups by gender. Int. J. Health Sci. 6(4), 169–175 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Sidell, M.: Death, dying and bereavement. In: Bond, J., Coleman, P., Peace, S. (eds.) Ageing in Society: An Introduction to Social Gerontology. Sage Publications, London (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Golden, J., Conroy, R.M., Lawlor, B.: Social support network structure in older people: underlying dimensions and association with psychological and physical health. Psychol. Health Med. 14(3), 280–290 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Monk, A.F., Reed, D.J.: Telephone conferences for fun: experimentation in people’s homes, pp. 201–214. HOIT, Springer, Chennai, India (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  8. King, H.: A telephone reassurance service: a natural support system for the elderly. J. Gerontol. Soc. Work 16(1/2), 159–177 (1991)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. White, H., McConnell, E., Clipp, E., Bynum, L., Teage, C., Navas, L., Craven, S., Halbrecht, H.: Surfing the net in later life: a review of the literature and pilot study of computer use and quality of life. J. Appl. Gerontol. 18(3), 358–378 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Groves, D.L., Slack, T.: Computers and their application to senior citizens therapy within a nursing home. J. Instruct. Psychol. 21(3), 221–227 (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Dickinson, A., Newell, A.F., Smith, M.J., Hill, R.L.: Introducing the Internet to the over-60 s: developing an email system for older novice computer users. Interact. Comput. 17(6), 621–642 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Inoue, M., Suyama, A., Takeuchi, Y., Meshitsuka, S.: Application of a computer based education system for aged persons and issues arising during the field test. Comput. Methods Prog. Biomed. 59(1), 55–60 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Czaja, S.J., Guerrier, J.H., Nair, S.N., Landauer, T.K.: Computer communication as an aid to independence for older adults. Behav. Inf. Technol. 12(4), 197–207 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Hawthorn, D.: How universal is good design for older people? In: Proceedings of the ACM Conference on Universal Usability, pp. 38–45. Vancouver, Canada (2003)

  15. Wherton, J.P., Prendergast, D.K.: Building bridges: involving older adults in the design of comunication technology to support peer-to-peer social engagement. In: Holzinger, A., Miesenberger, K. (eds.) HCI and Usability for E-Inclusion, pp. 111–134. Springer, Berlin (2009)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  16. De Jong Gierveld, J., Van Tilburg, T.: A 6-item scale for overall, emotional and social loneliness: confirmatory tests on survey data. Res. Aging 28(5), 582–598 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Luanaigh, C.O., Lawlor, B.A.: Loneliness and the health of older people. Int. J. Geriatric Psych. 23(12), 1213–1221 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Winer, B.J.: Statistical principles in experimental design. McGraw-Hill, New York (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Newell, A., Arnott, J., Carmichael & Morgan, M.: Methodologies for involving older adults in the design process. In: Stephanidis, C. (ed.) Universal Access in HCI, Part I, pp. 982–989. Springer, Berlin, LNCS 4554 (2007)

  20. Cattan, M., White, M., Bond, J., Learmouth, A.: Preventing social isolation and loneliness among older people: a systematic review of health promotion interventions. Ageing Soc. 25, 41–67 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Prendergast, D., Roberts, S.: Practice, systems and technology for seniors: a communication. Univ. Access Inf. Soc. 7(3), 59–61 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to our colleagues, especially Brian Lawlor, Ben Arent, James Brennan, Vanessa Buckley, Julie Doyle, Ronan McDonnell, Blaithin O’Dea, Simon Roberts, Cormac Sheehan, David Singleton, Claire Somerville, Zoran Skrba, Susan Squires, Maurice ten Koppel, Flip van den Berg and Ciaran Wynne. This research was completed as part of a wider programme of research within the TRIL Centre (Technology Research for Independent Living). The TRIL Centre is a multi-disciplinary research centre, bringing together researchers from UCD, TCD, NUIG & Intel, funded by Intel, IDA Ireland and GE Healthcare. www.trilcentre.org.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Technology Research for Independent Living (TRIL) Centre, Dublin, Ireland

    Chiara Garattini, Joseph Wherton & David Prendergast

  2. School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Chiara Garattini

  3. Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Joseph Wherton

  4. Intel Labs, Health Research and Innovation, Leixlip, Ireland

    David Prendergast

Authors
  1. Chiara Garattini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Joseph Wherton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. David Prendergast
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chiara Garattini.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Garattini, C., Wherton, J. & Prendergast, D. Linking the lonely: an exploration of a communication technology designed to support social interaction among older adults. Univ Access Inf Soc 11, 211–222 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-011-0235-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-011-0235-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation