JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic increased the importance of technology for all Americans, including older adults. Obtaining knowledge regarding previously hospitalized older adults’ technology use, before and during the pandemic, could inform the appropriateness of technology-based interventions for vulnerable older adults.

Objective:

This study had two aims: 1) to describe changes in older adult technology-based communication, technology-based phone use, and technology-based gaming during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic and 2) to test whether technology use moderated the association between such changes in in-person visits and well-being, controlling for covariates.

Methods:

Between December 2020 and January 2021 we conducted a telephone-based objective survey with 60 previously hospitalized older New Yorkers with physical disability. Paired t tests and interaction models were used to analyze survey data.

Results:

We found that our sample of 60 older adults significantly increased their technology-based communication (mean difference=.74, p=.003), smart phone use (mean difference=2.9, p=.016), and technology-based gaming (mean difference=.52, p=.030) during the pandemic, compared to before the pandemic. However, this technology use during the pandemic did not moderate the association between changes in in-person visits and well-being, controlling for covariates.

Conclusions:

These study findings suggest that previously hospitalized older adults with physical disability are open to using or learning technology, but that technology use might not be able to replace in-person social interactions. Future research might explore the specific components of in-person visits that are missing in virtual interactions, and if they could be replicated in the virtual environment, or through other means.