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• Primary aspects of the elderly and information communication technologies

  138-160

  Zsolt Kristóf

  Anita Győri

  Views:

  499

  In this article, we will briefly review information and communication technology (ICT), the most typical characteristics of the elderly age group, and finally, we will look at how and in which areas the elderly can connect to ICT solutions. It is not easy to navigate in a world of rapidly evolving technology even for those who do not have to think about how to learn using ICT. In a rapidly evolving world of technology, it is not easy for those who does not need to think about how to learn how to use ICT to adapt. Those who have not been in touch with ICT for a third or half of their lives start from a serious disadvantage, and this disadvantage can increase in old age. Today it is increasingly difficult to distinguish between the online and offline worlds, and this is unlikely to become easier in the future. Welfare states are characterized by an aging society, and the resulting problems have long been present in all areas, from health to economy. In our study we will examine and bring together relevant literature closely related to this topic, covering quality of life, overcoming loneliness, social inclusion and the health of the individual. Our aim is to explore the potential of ICT for quality ageing of older people, the factors that motivate them to use the tools, the difficulties that hinder their use and learning, and the future prospects. Our study covered the English and Hungarian language literature, publications published in Europe or research conducted in European countries, among people aged 65 and over, between 2011 and 2021.

• COVID-19, lockdown, elderly. Experiences of the follow up research among active older adults 2020- 2021.

  40-42

  László Patyán

  Ágnes Bene

  Ivett Stumpf-Tamás

  Views:

  166

  Introduction, aims:
  The COVID-19 pandemic caused invaluable harms on the World during last two years. Among all economic and societal consequences the negative effects for elderly people was also apparent. Researches - among others - focused on the age related inequalities for accessing and using services, economic disadvantages, the decline of psychical, physical and mental conditions, reduced quality of life, increased level of loneliness, stress and depression, such as the increase and new faces of ageism.
  This research focused on the individual and organizational consequences of COVID – 19 pandemic and the effects of the state interventions followed by. The target group were identified as active seniors who have leading positions in different local and regional senior’s associations. These people were affected individually as a member of the age group and as an experts with organizational responsibilities as well.

  Research method:
  We chose a qualitative follow up (longitudinal) research method that was committed by semi structured phone interviews, recorded and anonymised. The time of the two data record focused and followed the main Hungarian waves of the pandemic: May – June in 2020 and June – July in 2021. Sample were collected from all districts of Hungary (n=42).

  Main research topics were:
  - The situation of the older adults (experiences about the local older people, daily life, problems, issues, social connections)
  - The life in the organization (activities, new initiatives, problems, issues)
  - Individual experiences (fears, daily life, social connections, shopping habits, use of ICT, vaccination).

  Results:
  We found significant differences on the personal life situation and the perception of pandemic and related interventions during the two waves. Pandemic situation may influenced these results. The age related “stay at home campaign” made more difficulties for the older people during the first wave, meanwhile related interventions weren’t so strict during the second wave by introducing shopping timeline for older people and night curfew for all in the late nights. Even first wave did not cause such harm like the second one in Hungary.
  During the first wave we found older people as a rule following citizens. They followed all the restrictions and regulations strictly. Life situations mainly were determined by the living conditions, that is means the ones who lived in the countryside mainly a house with garden experienced less negative effects than those, who lived in the housing estate area (first wave mainly fall on March – May).
  Older people reported increased importance of the local authorities. With the lack of central supporting interventions, local authorities played main role for local support, care and security. If the local government took care of older people they felt safety. Less interventions and coordination made older people insecured.
  The second wave made new situations for people. Older adults became one of the first target groups in vaccination and people started to cope with the pandemic.
  Older adults became more critical with governmental interventions.
  Critics focussed on the
  - pandemic related communication, the vaccination (older people mainly got Shinofarm vaccine that was not accepted in the EU at that time),
  - difficulties with the availability of health services, and
  - they experienced increased economic problems.
  The life in the organization: during the first wave we found frozen life of the seniors organization, cancelled and delayed programmes. Some initiatives were also reported. People preferred to keep contact via phone instead of using another ICT tools. Some of the answerer worried about the community life, how they can restart after the pandemic, others preferred the forthcoming chance for personal meetings.
  Seniors organisations may play an important role of the senior’s life by organizing free time and social activities, advocacy, and many other aspects of active ageing. As we made a first extract of this research further analyse will focus more on the good examples and new initiatives on the social, community and organizational levels.

• How can telemental health help reduce the loneliness and isolation of the elderly?

  2-29

  Anikó Panna Tóth

  Views:

  360

  In the study, based on a literature review, the author explains the concept of telemental health and how it can contribute to reducing the loneliness and isolation of the elderly. It covers the experiences of using ICT in the care of the elderly in Hungary, and also briefly presents how the use of digital technology has contributed to the social and mental health care of the elderly during the coronavirus epidemic, and what changes have taken place. The study concludes with recommendations for the use of ICT by social workers and the development of telemental health services for the elderly.

• Older people in the infocommunication space - opportunities and challenges

  101-102

  Kristóf Zsolt Nádasdi

  Anita Győri

  Views:

  198

  Az idősek infokommunikációs technológiákkal történő interakciója pozitívan befolyásolhatja szellemi tevékenységüket és összességében jó hatással lehet a mentális egészségük serkentésére. Ez a mentális stimuláció javíthatja a memóriájukat is. Az IKT-t használó idősek úgy érzik, sokkal magabiztosabbak és kevésbé vannak elszigetelve a társadalomtól, megnöveltnek látják a társadalmi támogatást és társadalmi interakciót, jobb kognitív képességekkel rendelkeznek, fennmaradhat a függetlenség érzése a mindennapi életükben és körükben alacsonyabb szintű depressziót mérnek a kutatók. Az IKT-t megfelelő szinten alkalmazó személyek akár magasabb hozzáadott értéket is képviselhetnek közösségükben, mivel képesek átadni bölcsességüket és tudásukat a fiatalabb generációknak a fejlett technológián keresztül is. A fentiek következtében csökken a digitális szakadék, javulhat a személyes életminőség, a függetlenség és autonómia fenntartása a mobilitást is fokozza, kialakulhat és működhet a személyre szabott integrált szociális és egészségügyi ellátáshoz való hozzáférés, így a digitális kompetenciák színvonalas alkalmazása alapvetően, összességében pozitívan tud hatni az idősek saját életére és a hozzájuk tartozókéra is (Blazun, 2013).

  Jelenleg – főleg az elmúlt évtizedekhez képest – a kifejezetten idősebbek számára készült technológiai eszközök és megoldások felé mutatott igény, ennek következtében pedig ezek piacképessége is fellendülésben van. A gerontechnológia – melynek területéhez tartozik minden olyan okos szolgáltatás és technikai innováció, amely az idősek életminőségét javíthatja – segíthet a sikeres öregedésben és az önálló élet fenntartásában. A kapcsolati szolgáltatások erősíthetik a szocializációt és csökkenthetik az esetleges ellátási költségeket (Peterson & Prasad, 2011). 2020-ban az idősekkel kapcsolatos médiavisszhang minden eddiginél kiemelkedőbb volt a magasabb egészségi kockázat és a korona vírussal szembeni nagyobb veszélyeztetettség miatt (Köttl, Tatzer & Ayalon, 2021).

  Amikor az idősek az IKT lehetőségeket használják, számos kedvező hatással találkozhatnak. Digitális tudásuk fejlődésével csökkenhet a kirekesztődésük, ezzel együtt a magány érzete is, egészségi állapotuk folyamatos monitorozásával lassítható az egészségromlás, addig ismeretlen, új információkhoz tudnak hozzájutni, mely által fenntarthatják vagy növelhetik a mentális kondíciójukat. Kialakíthatják és menedzselhetik a családi és baráti kapcsolattartást, távolabb élő személyekkel tudják felvenni a kapcsolatot, illetve, ha mindezekben fiatalabb családtagjaik segítik őket, szorosabb családi köteléket és intergenerációs hasznot is hoz a folyamat (Bene, Móré & Zombory, 2020). Figyelmet kell fordítani arra ugyanakkor, hogy a pozitív tényezők mellett megjelenhetnek a negatív vonatkozások is. Ezek magában foglalhatják azokat az érzéseket, amelyek a személyes kontaktus hiánya miatt keletkeznek, olyan egészségi hatások erősödhetnek, mint a szem terhelése, a hosszabb ideig tartó ülés miatt rosszabbodó testtartás, internetes visszaélések célpontjai lehetnek az idősek, esetleg felmerülhet körükben is internet-és okoseszköz függőség.

  Előadásunkban az idősek és az IKT kapcsolatát vizsgáljuk a tanulás, a magányosság az egészségügy és egyéb, általánosabb területek vonatkozásában a nemzetközi szakirodalmon keresztül.

  Irodalom:
  1. Bene, Á., Móré, M., & Zombory, J. (2020). A digitalizáció néhány elemének időseket érintő hatásai - karantén előtti helyzetkép. Magyar Gerontológia, 12(39), 29-51.
  2. Blazun, H. (2013). Elderly People's Quality of Life with Information and Communication Technology (ICT): Toward a Model of Adaptation to ICT in Old Age. University of Eastern Finland, Dissertations in Social Sciences and Business Studies, no 59.
  3. Köttl, H., Tatzer, V. C., & Ayalon, L. (2021). COVID-19 and Everyday ICT Use: The Discursive Construction of Old Age in German Media. The Gerontological Society of America, 10(10), 1-12.

• How can telemental health help reduce the loneliness and isolation of the elderly?

  50-54

  Anikó Panna Tóth

  Views:

  82

  The goal of the paper is to draw attention to the importance of telemental health and how it can contribute to reducing the loneliness and isolation of the elderly, by reviewing the literature. The author briefly presents how the use of digital technology has contributed to the social and mental health care of the elderly during the coronavirus epidemic, and what changes have taken place. The study concludes with recommendations for the use of ICT by social workers and the development of telemental health services for the elderly.

• Action for smart healthy age-friendly environments

  47-48

  Willeke van Staalduinen

  Views:

  77

  Smart, adaptable and inclusive solutions can help improve and support independent life throughout the course of life, regardless of age, gender, disabilities, cultural differences and personal choices.
  A holistic approach that optimizes social and physical environments, supported by digital tools and services, allows to provide better health and social care, promoting not only independent living, but also equity and active participation in society. This approach follows the United Nations' line-up, with the Sustainable Development Goals (in particular Objectives 3 and 11), stating that sustainable environments for all ages represent the basis for ensuring a better future for the entire population.
  The challenges of different sectors, such as ICT, the building industry and urban planning and the health and social care, as well as those of citizens and their communities are interlinked. Responding to these challenges will foster awareness and support for the creation and implementation of smart, healthy and inclusive environments for present and future generations.
  From this insight, a new concept was developed and well received: Smart Healthy Age-Friendly Environments (SHAFE). The by the EC approved Thematic Network of 2018 evolved into a Stakeholders Network of about 170 organisations and it is represented in several European projects and networks. COST Action NET4Age-Friendly brings together over 320 researchers from 46 countries. Capacity building to support the implementation of SHAFE is present in Erasmus+ projects.

  The presentation will give an overview of relevant development and insights to support the building of smart, inclusive societies.

• Changes in digital skills of seniors during and after covid-19

  115-125

  Klára Bajusz

  Views:

  90

  Since 2014, the Senior Academy of Pécs helps people over 60 with tools for active and successful aging. The activity of the academy was cut short by the COVID-19 epidemic, our work was relegated to the online learning space. Our research examined how the digital skills of our seniors changed during and after the quarantine, in 2021 and 2022. The study was carried out by online questionnaire (n=118, n=123). The survey revealed that the digital skills of 45% of the respondents improved, mostly in online shopping and administration. Most of the seniors learn ICT knowledge from their family members or friends. During the quarantine our students spent their time mainly reading and learning online, watching TV takes only 4%. 10% of them clearly experienced the epidemic situation as a loss: "the daily rhythm is missing". 6% of the respondents considered the current situation to be an advantage: their attitude towards learning improved, they were more forced to self-directed learning. The advantages of online education: flexibility in space and time, participation is safe, lectures can be watched any time. The most typical negatives are: the lack of community and discussion, and the fact that online education does not reduce loneliness.