Abstract
The opportunities and ethical challenges presented by the rapid expansion of information and communication technologies (ICTs) along with the growing application of ICTs to social work interventions have finally caught the attention of the profession. Particularly for older adults’ intent on maintaining independent community living, there is great potential in technology-mediated practices if barriers such as access, skill, and relevant content can be addressed safely. For the gerontological social work agencies that serve older adults, there is a need to upgrade the technology knowledge and skills of staff as well as to develop resources and collaborations to provide ICT support for clients – in terms of both the relevant hardware and software and the training to use these new tools safely. These efforts will also aid caregivers and family members. This chapter explores key issues in gerontological social work where ICTs can play a role and improve outcomes. Broader issues in assessment and intervention processes that would support greater inclusion of ICTs in the lives of older adults are explored, and implications for research and policy are considered. The Grand Challenge to harness technology for social good makes clear that digital tools need to be considered by gerontological social work practitioners.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Administration on Aging and Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2018). 2017 profile of older Americans. Retrieved from https://www.acl.gov/sites/default/files/Aging%20and%20Disability%20in%20America/2017OlderAmericansProfile.pdf
American Psychological Association. (2018). Instrumental activities of daily living scale. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/pi/about/publications/caregivers/practice-settings/assessment/tools/daily-activities.aspx
Anderson, M., & Perrin, A. (2017). Tech adoption climbs among older adults. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2017/05/17/technology-use-among-seniors/
Anderson, M., Perrin, A., & Jiang, J. (2018). 11% of Americans don’t use the internet: Who are they? Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/03/05/some-americans-dont-use-the-internet-who-are-they/
Arumuganainar, N. (2017). Role of technology in reducing social isolation amongst seniors. Retrieved from http://openresearch.ocadu.ca/id/eprint/1687/1/ManickvasagamArumuganainar_NellaiAlwar_2017_MDES_ID_MRP.pdf
Association of Social Work Board and National Association of Social Workers. (2005). Standards for technology in social work practice. Retrieved from https://www.aswb.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/TechnologySWPractice.pdf
Baernholdt, M., Yan, G., Hinton, I., Rose, K., & Mattos, M. (2012). Quality of life in rural and urban adults 65 years and older: Findings from the national health and nutrition examination survey. Journal of Rural Health, 28(4), 339–347. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-0361.2011.00403.x
Barley, R., Fritz, R., Van Son, C. R., & Schmitter-Edgecombe, M. (2019). Promoting technology and persons with dementia: The significance of context and communication. Gerontologist, 59(1), 101–111.
Berzin, S. C., Singer, J., & Chan, C. (2015). Practice innovation through technology in the digital age: A grand challenge for social work (Grand Challenges for Social Work Initiative Working Paper No. 12). Cleveland, OH: American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2005). Check for safety: A home fall prevention checklist for older adults. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/pubs/English/booklet_Eng_desktop-a.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Older adult falls. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/index.html
Center for Technology and Aging. (2009). Technologies to help older adults maintain independence: Advancing technology adoption. Retrieved from http://www.techandaging.org/briefingpaper.pdf
Chaumon, E., Michel, C., Tarpin, F., & Croisile, B. (2013). Can ICTS improve the quality of life of elderly adults living in residential home care units? From actual impacts to hidden artefacts. Behaviour and Information Technology, 33(6), 574–590. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2013.832382
Choi, N., & DiNitto, D. (2013). The digital divide among low-income homebound older adults: Internet use patterns, ehealth literacy, and attitudes toward computer/internet use. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 15(5), e93. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.2645
Chonody, J., & Teater, B. (2017). Social work practice with older adults: An actively aging framework for practice. Thousands Oak, CA: Sage.
Chopik, W. (2016). The benefits of social technology use among older adults are mediated by reduced loneliness. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, 19(9), 551–556. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2016.0151
Correia, C., Lopez, K. J., Wroblewski, K. E., Huisingh-Scheetz, M., Kern, D. W., Chen, R. C., … Pinto, J. M. (2016). Global sensory impairment in older adults in the United States. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 64, 306–313.
Cotterell, N., Buffel, T., & Phillipson, C. (2018). Preventing social isolation in older people. Maturitas, 113, 80–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2018.04.014
Coulton, C. J., Goerge, R., Putnam-Hornstein, E., & de Haan, B. (2015). Harnessing big data for social good: A grand challenge for social work (Grand Challenges for Social Work Initiative Working Paper No. 11). Cleveland, OH: American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare.
Council on Social Work Education. (2018). Envisioning the future of social work. Retrieved from https://www.cswe.org/About-CSWE/Governance/Board-of-Directors/2018-19-Strategic-Planning-Process/CSWE-FTF-Four-Futures-for-Social-Work-FINAL-2.aspx
Culo, S. (2011). Risk assessment and intervention for vulnerable older adults. British Columbia Medical Journal, 53(8), 421–425.
Damant, J., Knapp, M., Watters, S., Freddolino, P., Ellis, M., & King, D. (2013). The impact of ICT services on perceptions of the quality of life of older people. Journal of Assistive Technologies, 7(1), 5–21. https://doi.org/10.1108/17549451311313183
Davis, J. C., Bryan, S., Li, L. C., Best, J. R., Hsu, C. L., Gomez, C., & Liu-Ambrose, T. (2015). Mobility and cognition are associated with wellbeing and health related quality of life among older adults: a cross-sectional analysis of the Vancouver Falls Prevention Cohort. BMC Geriatrics, 15(1), 1–7. Retrieved from https://bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186%2Fs12877-015-0076-2
Delello, J. A., Rochell, R., & McWhorter, R. R. (2017). Reducing the digital divide: Connecting older adults to iPad technology. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 36(1), 3–28. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464815589985
Dementia Australia. (2016). EDIE – Educational dementia immersive experience. Retrieved from https://www.dementia.org.au/learning/centre-for-dementia-learning/edie-educational-dementia-immersive-experience
Evans, D., & Keamey, J. (2016). Working in social care: A systemic approach. New York, NY: Routledge.
Federal Communications Commission. (2018). Lifeline program for low-income consumers. Retrieved from https://www.fcc.gov/general/lifeline-program-low-income-consumers
Felke, T. (2018). The use of geographic information systems for social work education, research, and practice. In L. Goldkind, L. Wolf, & P. Freddolino (Eds.), Digital social work: Tools for practice with individuals, organizations, and communities (pp. 145–167). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Freddolino, P. P., Lee, V. W. P., Law, C. K., & Ho, C. (2010). To help and to learn: An exploratory study of peer tutors teaching older adults about technology. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 28(4), 217–239. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228835.2011.565458
Goldkind, L., & Wolf, L. (2015). A digital environment approach: Four technologies that will disrupt social work practice. Social Work, 60(1), 85–88.
Goldkind, L., Wolf, L., & Freddolino, P. (2018). Digital social work: Tools for practice with individuals, organizations, and communities. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Khosravi, P., Rezvani, A., & Wiewiora, A. (2016). The impact of technology on older adults’ social isolation. Computers in Human Behavior, 63, 594–603. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.05.092
Kropf, N., & Cummings, S. (2017). Evidence-base treatment with older adults: Theory, practice and research. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Krueger, A. (2018). Promoting real abilities in a virtual world. In L. Goldkind, L. Wolf, & P. Freddolino (Eds.), Digital social work: Tools for practice with individuals, organizations, and communities (pp. 13–35). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Lai, P. (2017). The literature review of technology adoption models and theories for the novelty technology. Journal of Information Systems and Technology Management, 14(1), 1807–1775. https://doi.org/10.4301/S1807-17752017000100002
Lee, N. T. (2017, June 5). Public policy can improve older adults access to technology. Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu/blog/techtank/2017/06/05/public-policy-can-improve-older-adults-access-to-technology/
Lopez-Hartmann, M., Wens, J., Verhoeven, V., & Remmen, R. (2012). The effect of caregiver support interventions for informal caregivers of community-dwelling frail elderly: A systematic review. International Journal of Integrated Care, 12, e133.
McMellon, C. A., & Schiffman, L. G. (2002). Cybersenior empowerment: How some older individuals are taking control of their lives. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 21(2), 157–175. https://doi.org/10.1177/07364802021002002
Medical Alert Advice. (n.d.). Automatic fall detection fall alert devices for seniors. Retrieved from https://www.medicalalertadvice.com/fall-detection/
Mitzner, T. L., Boron, J. B., Fausset, C. B., Adams, A. E., Charness, N., Czaja, S. J., & Sharit, J. (2010). Older adults talk technology: Technology usage and attitudes. Computers in Human Behavior, 26(6), 1710–1721.
Mlinac, M. E., & Feng, M. C. (2016). Assessment of activities of daily living, self-care, and independence. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 31(6), 506–516. https://doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acw049
National Association of Social Workers, Association of Social Work Boards, Council on Social Work Education, and Clinical Social Work Association. (2017). Standards for technology in social work practice. Retrieved from https://www.socialworkers.org/includes/newIncludes/homepage/PRA-BRO-33617.TechStandards_FINAL_POSTING.pdf
National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2013). Technologies to promote activities of daily living and independence. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK202427/
National Institute on Aging. (2017). Prevent falls and fractures. Retrieved from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/prevent-falls-and-fractures
Papacharissi, Z., & Rubin, A. M. (2000). Predictors of internet use. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 44(2), 175–196.
Parker, J. (2017). Social work practice: Assessment, planning, intervention and review. Thousands Oaks, CA: Sage.
Rainie, L. (2017). Digital divides – Feeding America. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center Internet, Science & Tech. Retrieved from www.pewinternet.org/2017/02/09/digital-divides-feeding-america/
Rashidi, P. (2012). A tutorial: Assisted living technologies for older adults. Retrieved from https://www.cise.ufl.edu/~prashidi/Files/Tutorial.pdf
Royse, D., & Badger, K. (2015). Needs assessment planning: Starting where you are. Australian Social Work, 68(3), 364–374. https://doi.org/10.1080/0312407X.2015.1035661
Sage, M., Singer, J. B., LaMarre, A., & Rice, C. (2018). Digital storytelling: Tools, techniques, and traditions. In L. Goldkind, L. Wolf, & P. Freddolino (Eds.), Digital social work: Tools for practice with individuals, organizations, and communities (pp. 90–108). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Smith, A. (2014a). African Americans and technology use: A demographic portrait. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/01/06/african-americans-and-technology-use/
Smith, A. (2014b). Older adults and technology use. Pew Research Internet Project. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/04/03/older-adults-and-technology-use/
Statista. (2017). Willingness to use selected technologies to communicate with healthcare providers among U.S. adults as of 2017. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/297827/healthcare-providers-and-consumers-use-of-communication-technolog/
University of Chicago Medical Center. (2016). Sensory loss affects 94 percent of older adults: Multisensory impairment more frequent among African Americans. Science Daily. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/02/160218083221.htm
Weir, K. (2014). Mind games. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2014/10/mind-games.aspx
Woodward, A. T., Freddolino, P. P., Wishart, D. J., Bakk, L., Kobayashi, R., Tupper, C., … Blaschke-Thompson, C. M. (2012). Outcomes from a peer tutor model for teaching technology to older adults. Ageing and Society., 33(8), 1315–1338. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X12000530
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Freddolino, P.P., Keys, F. (2019). Harness Technology for Social Good. In: Sanders, S., Kolomer, S., Waites Spellman, C., Rizzo, V. (eds) Gerontological Social Work and the Grand Challenges. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26334-8_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26334-8_8
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-26333-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-26334-8
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science and PsychologyBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)