The role of assistive technology in addressing social isolation, loneliness and health inequities among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Purpose

Assistive technology (AT) is an effective tool to promote social connectedness among older adults affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; however, its role in reducing loneliness and health inequities is not well understood. The goal of this scoping review was to construct a model for how technologies may be deployed to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on social isolation, loneliness and health inequities for older adults.

Methods

PubMed, SCOPUS and PsychINFO were searched from 2010 to 2020 for the following keywords: “social isolation,” “loneliness,” “social support,” “resilience,” “technology,” “pandemic” and “health inequit*.” Articles selected for full analysis attempted to understand how technology alleviates social isolation and/or loneliness among older adults.

Results

Eighteen articles met the criteria for selection and data extraction. Six were review-type studies, seven were observational, three were randomized control trials, one opinion piece and one case study. ATs have been shown to reduce loneliness and social isolation, strengthen social support, and promote resilience among older adults. AT reduces loneliness both directly and indirectly, by affecting social isolation. There is insufficient evidence to determine technology’s relationship to health inequities experienced by older adults.

Conclusions

The model we have proposed should help advance research on the relationship between ATs and health inequities among older adults that may be aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesize that AT interventions for social support and functional competence should be sequenced to reduce health disparities.

Implications for rehabilitation

• The social distancing and quarantine measures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic can be linked to adverse health outcomes among older adult populations.

• Technology is an effective tool to promote social connectedness among older adults affected by the pandemic.

• Assistive technology (AT) interventions for social support and functional competence should be sequenced in order to have best effects on reducing health disparities.

Keywords:

• Ageing
• assistive technology
• health disparities
• health inequities
• pandemic

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.