Older Adults’ Perceptions of ICT: Main Findings from the Technology In Later Life (TILL) Study

Hannah Ramsden Marston* (Corresponding Author), Rebecca Genoe, Shannon Freeman, Cory Kulczycki, Charles Musselwhite

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

74 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Technology is entwined in 21st Century society, and within the lives of people across all ages. The Technology In Later Life (TILL) study is the first piece of work contributing to the impact, behavior, and perception of technology use, by adults aged ≥70 years, residing in rural and suburban areas. TILL is an international, multi-centred, multi-methods study investigating and conceptualizing how various technologies impact the lives of older adults; residing in urban and rural locations in the United Kingdom (UK) and Canada. This in-depth study recruited 37 participants via a multi-methods approach. Analysis of the findings ascertained two overarching themes: facilitators of technology use (i.e., sharing of information and feeling secure), and detractors of technology (i.e., feelings of apprehension of use). Proposed recommendations include promotion of technology from a strengths-based perspective focusing on positive opportunities technology to improve health and wellbeing, creating a peer support network to assist with learning of new technology, and the need to examine further how intergenerational relationships may be enhanced through the use of technology. The distinction of these themes narrates to the originality of this initial study and milieu of recruited participants, intersecting across the fields of gerontology, geography, social sciences, and gerontechnology.
Original languageEnglish
Article number86
JournalHealthcare
Volume7
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 04 Jul 2019
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Community networks
  • Gerontechnology
  • Intergenerational
  • Privacy
  • Qualitative research methods
  • Rural ageing
  • Social connectedness
  • Technology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Older Adults’ Perceptions of ICT: Main Findings from the Technology In Later Life (TILL) Study'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this