It is anticipated that the rapid expansion of the older adult population (aged 65+) will put significant pressure on healthcare systems and care providers (including caregivers) across the globe. To this end, researchers across a variety of disciplines (e.g., gerontology/geriatrics, public health, health informatics, computer science, etc.) have explored innovative approaches towards addressing health and well-being issues among older adults in an effort to alleviate these anticipated pressures. One avenue of inquiry is in exploring how information and communication technologies (e.g., Internet-connected devices, like smartphones and tablet computers, and their associated programs/applications) can improve healthcare access and promote individual physical, psychological, and social health and well-being in the global aging population. However, despite the potential positive impacts of these technologies, many older adults experience significant barriers to accessing and successfully using these technologies for their benefit.
The goal of this Research Topic is to bring together robust work which elucidates the ways in which older adults utilize health-related ICTs in managing their health and healthcare, the impacts of ICT use among older adults with regards to health and well-being, and the challenges older adults face in using health-related ICTs. In understanding the role health-related ICTs play in the health and healthcare of older adults, and in understanding the barriers elders face in successfully accessing and using these technologies, stakeholders in eldercare may be better equipped to develop and promote technology-based strategies toward improving the health of the rapidly growing aging population. Such strategies, over time, may not only benefit older patients but also benefit global healthcare systems, as successful use of health-related ICTs in eldercare may help decrease reliance on more costly approaches to healthcare and reduce the pressures these systems (and those that operate within them) may face.
We invite both theoretical and empirical submissions for this Research Topic which addresses the potential health benefits of ICT use among older adults and the challenges or barriers older adults face in accessing and/or using health-related ICTs. Submissions may utilize quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods approaches. Submissions may address (but are not limited to) the following areas:
• Theory building on health-related ICT adoption, acceptance, and use among older adults
• Online health information-seeking practices and challenges among older adults
• Use of online programs and applications to foster health-related communication between older adults and care providers
• Physical, psychological, and/or social health and well-being impacts of ICT use among older adults
• Health impacts of innovative ICTs designed specifically for or adapted for older users
• Impacts of health-related ICT interventions targeting and/or tailored to older adults
• Barriers and challenges to successful use of health-related ICTs among older adults
It is anticipated that the rapid expansion of the older adult population (aged 65+) will put significant pressure on healthcare systems and care providers (including caregivers) across the globe. To this end, researchers across a variety of disciplines (e.g., gerontology/geriatrics, public health, health informatics, computer science, etc.) have explored innovative approaches towards addressing health and well-being issues among older adults in an effort to alleviate these anticipated pressures. One avenue of inquiry is in exploring how information and communication technologies (e.g., Internet-connected devices, like smartphones and tablet computers, and their associated programs/applications) can improve healthcare access and promote individual physical, psychological, and social health and well-being in the global aging population. However, despite the potential positive impacts of these technologies, many older adults experience significant barriers to accessing and successfully using these technologies for their benefit.
The goal of this Research Topic is to bring together robust work which elucidates the ways in which older adults utilize health-related ICTs in managing their health and healthcare, the impacts of ICT use among older adults with regards to health and well-being, and the challenges older adults face in using health-related ICTs. In understanding the role health-related ICTs play in the health and healthcare of older adults, and in understanding the barriers elders face in successfully accessing and using these technologies, stakeholders in eldercare may be better equipped to develop and promote technology-based strategies toward improving the health of the rapidly growing aging population. Such strategies, over time, may not only benefit older patients but also benefit global healthcare systems, as successful use of health-related ICTs in eldercare may help decrease reliance on more costly approaches to healthcare and reduce the pressures these systems (and those that operate within them) may face.
We invite both theoretical and empirical submissions for this Research Topic which addresses the potential health benefits of ICT use among older adults and the challenges or barriers older adults face in accessing and/or using health-related ICTs. Submissions may utilize quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods approaches. Submissions may address (but are not limited to) the following areas:
• Theory building on health-related ICT adoption, acceptance, and use among older adults
• Online health information-seeking practices and challenges among older adults
• Use of online programs and applications to foster health-related communication between older adults and care providers
• Physical, psychological, and/or social health and well-being impacts of ICT use among older adults
• Health impacts of innovative ICTs designed specifically for or adapted for older users
• Impacts of health-related ICT interventions targeting and/or tailored to older adults
• Barriers and challenges to successful use of health-related ICTs among older adults
