It’s no secret that the baby boomer generation is aging, propelling the number of older adults here in the U.S. and around the world to staggering heights, with the most significant increase to be seen in coming decades in those 85 and up. They’re statistics that were repeated time and time again during this week’s Environments for Aging (EFA) Conference in Baltimore.
And while the fact that we’re all living longer is great, EFA Conference closing keynote Sara J. Czaja noted in her Tuesday presentation that it’s not that simple. “They also often typically need more care,” she said—a fact that’s creating a number of challenges.
Czaja, a Leonard M. Miller Professor of the Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and professor of industrial engineering at the University of Miami, as well as scientific director of the Center on Aging at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and the director of the Center on Research and Education for Aging and Technology Enhancement (CREATE), highlighted a few of the ways this trend of population aging is presenting itself.
For starters, chronic conditions are more commonly managed at home today, frequently with the help of family members. And while family caregiving is common, modern trends in the American family are becoming more complex, with children often moving farther away from home or couples having fewer children, limiting those who may be able to care for seniors in coming years. And while the preference for many is to age in place as long as possible, a societal dependence on cars limits the ability of many to adequately seek the services they require.
Simultaneously, technology has become ubiquitous in how many of us live our lives. Therein lies the opportunity, Czaja said—how can technology promote the quality of life, enhance communication, and decrease a feeling of social isolation for older adults?
She shared a few immediate solutions, including telemedicine, which allows healthcare providers to monitor patients remotely as well as offer online support systems and health apps. Activity trackers, such as the Nike FuelBand or FitBit, support individuals’ engagement in their fitness, too, while other technologies can support cognitive functions with aids that might remind one of the date and time or how to use an appliance or other device in the home. The future will also bring implantable technologies that measure muscle activity and vitals or “smart homes” that do everything from feed the dog to turn on lights when you need them—all solutions that will allow seniors to stay at home longer and rely less on others.
But there’s a hitch. While all of these technologies are either here or on the horizon, will seniors be able to access them and adapt to using them? Czaja shared research that shows older adults generally use technology less than younger adults, feel anxiety about using or learning new technologies, are able to learn new technology but may take longer or need more support, and are much more likely to adopt technologies if they seem useful and usable.
Other barriers to use include a lack of awareness among seniors of what the Internet is and how it might benefit them and the cost associated with it—“Who’s going to pay $49 a month for Internet hookup?” she said. Additionally, there may be difficulty in staying current with the latest versions, updates, and iterations, not to mention understanding devices’ inherent complexities (for example, the iPhone is much more than just a phone). “By its nature, technology is dynamic,” Czaja said.
However, these barriers can be removed, she noted, by increasing awareness, improving access to technology and support, and communicating how use can benefit seniors.
As part of CREATE, Czaja conducted a study of older adults who live at home alone and are generally isolated. This isolation can lead to poorer health and a diminished quality of life, she said, so the group set out to see if technology could reduce those risks.
Participants (age 65 and older) were provided with software developed by CREATE that presented an easy-to-navigate platform where they had access to email, Internet, photo sharing, games, and a calendar of events, among other features—as well as plenty of training on how to use it all.
And it worked. The study found the seniors were all able to learn the program and benefitted from communicating more easily with family, reconnecting with old friends, and building new relationships, all resulting in the creation of more social support and technology proficiency.
It’s a valuable lesson for providers on how to maintain the health and well-being of seniors still within their own homes by providing not just access but support for technologies that will allow them to remain independent longer. And there are plenty of takeaways for senior living communities, as well, showcasing the importance of providing spaces where residents can be immersed in technology, not only to more easily monitor their health but to remain connected with their loved ones and reduce the risks Czaja shared that come with feelings of isolation.
