Authors:
Stephanie Jansen-Kosterink
1
;
Patrick Varenbrink
2
and
Arno Naafs
3
Affiliations:
1
Roessingh Research and Development and University of Twente, Netherlands
;
2
Alifa, Netherlands
;
3
Present Media, Netherlands
Keyword(s):
Older Adults, Loneliness, Social Isolation, Information Communication Technology, mHealth.
Abstract:
The social isolation among older adults is a growing concern, as both social isolation and loneliness have been
associated with ill health. Information communication technology can overcome the social and spatial barriers
of social interaction by enabling easy affordable communication and activities of multiple form between older
adults and others anytime and anywhere. Therefore, technology-supported intervention, such as the
GezelschApp could prevent and ameliorate social isolation and loneliness among older adults. The aim of this
paper is to introduce this new technology, to provide an overview of the current evaluation and to present the
intermediate results concerning the usability of end-user acceptance of this technology. The GezelschApp is
a mobile application to reduce social isolation and loneliness among older adults. This application, also
accessible by PC and tablet, gives older adults access to a homepage with six features (an inbox for messages,
news, activities, infor
mation, tips and friends). On beforehand interested older adults are screened by a coach
before they receive a personal access code. During the 3 months evaluation of the GezelschApp the usability,
end-user acceptance, level of experienced loneliness and quality of life are assessed. Although the evaluation
of the GezelschApp is still running, the first focus groups (n=10) with users highlight the need of the current
application to make new friends in a save manner and to participate in social activities.
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