Anticipated needs and worries about maintaining independence of rural/remote older adults: Opportunities for technology development in the context of the double digital divide.

Understanding user needs is fundamental to the development of useful technology. Rural/ remote older adults are vulnerable due to restricted access to local supports and services and are, therefore, the quintessential end-users for assistive technology development. A sample of 337 older adults (M =...

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Publicado en:Gerontechnology Vol. 17; no. 3; pp. 126 - 139
Autores principales: O'Connell, Megan E., Scerbe, Andrea, Wiley, Katelyn, Gould, Ben, Carter, James, Bourassa, Carrie, Morgan, Debra, Jacklin, Kristen, Warry, Wayne
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: International Society for Gerontechnology 2018
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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        atl: Anticipated needs and worries about maintaining independence of rural/remote older adults: Opportunities for technology development in the context of the double digital divide.
      aug:
        au:
          O'Connell, Megan E.
          Scerbe, Andrea
          Wiley, Katelyn
          Gould, Ben
          Carter, James
          Bourassa, Carrie
          Morgan, Debra
          Jacklin, Kristen
          Warry, Wayne
        affil: Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
      sug:
        subj:
          Rural Areas Canada
          Digital Divide
          Assistive Technology
          Needs Assessment In Old Age
          Attitude to Aging In Old Age
          Human
          Middle Age
          Aged
          Aged, 80 and Over
          Random Sample
          Telephone
          Cellular Phone
          Canada
          Open-Ended Questionnaires
          Thematic Analysis
          Anxiety
          Home Health Care
          Assisted Living
          Residential Care
          Social Isolation
          Middle Aged: 45-64 years
          Aged: 65+ years
          Aged, 80 & over
      ab: Understanding user needs is fundamental to the development of useful technology. Rural/ remote older adults are vulnerable due to restricted access to local supports and services and are, therefore, the quintessential end-users for assistive technology development. A sample of 337 older adults (M = 69.5; SD = 6.89; range 60-87 years old) was recruited from randomly selected telephone numbers (land lines and cell phones) listed for persons residing outside metropolitan areas of a mid-west region in Canada. Participants responded to an open-ended question regarding a time when they needed assistance, and data were thematically analyzed (with NVIVO for support). Most described needing physical assistance due to strength limitations or various medical conditions, and many described needing help using technology (such as turning on a computer or burning a CD). An open-ended question was also asked regarding older adults' 'worries' about maintaining independence as they advanced in age. Although almost one third of the sample denied any worries associated with aging, almost a quarter of the sample reported worries were related to aging in the context of geographic isolation and lack of accessible services. Additional worries were characterized as general anxiety about independence, taking care of their home, and moving into assisted or residential living. These data suggest technology developed to augment physical tasks will be critical for rural/remote older adults but also highlights the need for intuitive and useable technologies that mitigate geographic isolation and increases accessibility of services. We discuss these findings in the context of a rural adaptation to the technology acceptance model.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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