Accessibility, Effectiveness, and Inclusivity of Technology for Elderly Health and Well-being: A Systematic Review

Description

Page: 42-50

Jeetisha Sharma and Anshika Chhabra (Department of Psychology, Indraprastha College for Women, University of Delhi,  Delhi)

The rapid shift of digitalization in healthcare has contributed to providing mindful choices and experience to older adults. The COVID-19 has accelerated the move towards ehealth, but significant concerns and challenges remain. This review paper comprehensively examines the facilitators and barriers to digital health adoption among older adults, focusing on the psychosocial impacts of this transformation. Additionally, the paper attempts to analyze the adoption patterns, efficacy and user experience of ehealth among older adults. A systematic review of 31 research papers (n=31) published between 2016 and 2024 was conducted using six databases: PubMed, Science Direct, NIH, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and JSTOR. It included studies focusing on older adults aged 60 and above, excluding review papers. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes. The keywords used for searches included telemedicine, digital divide, self-ageism, intergenerational programs, barriers, mental health and social impacts. The results indicate that the effectiveness of eHealth programs for older adults relies on their user-friendliness, accessibility, and alignment with user’s needs and capacities. The key themes explored include accessibility of health-related technologies, adoption patterns among older adults, psychosocial impact on elderly and associated risks. The review underscores the need to address the digital divide by developing inclusive health technologies, providing comprehensive digital literacy training, fostering intergenerational mentorship, and implementing digital elderly-friendly policies. Lastly, future research should focus more on under researched areas such as analysis of the long-term outcomes of health technology and potential gender bias in the acceptance of new technologies.