How the Internet Can Positively Impact Seniors
Two interesting articles caught my eye over the last week, as they were directly related to how the Internet can positively impact a senior’s life. One article talked about embracing new “techie trends” to keep the brain stimulated, and the other article focused on how seniors can maintain relationships via digital mechanisms to reduce depression and health care costs.
Here are highlights from the articles:
Embrace techie trends to live longer and younger…
- Learn to Twitter or Skype to help keep brain cells young and healthy.
- Many of the oldest Americans send emails, Google lost friends and even date online. Researchers say using the latest technology helps keep us not only mentally spry, but socially engaged: “Stay connected to friends, family and current events, and you feel vital and relevant.” (Sherri Snelling, Senior Director for Evercare-United Healthcare)
http://health.msn.com/health-topics/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100247017&imageindex=3
Staying connected keeps seniors healthier…
- Getting seniors to use the Internet could reduce rates of depression among the elderly and cut health care costs.
- It seems that the Internet helps those with mobility difficulties keep in touch with friends and family and engage with the outside world, which keeps them from depression.
- The Phoenix study said that spending time online lowered depression rates by 20% among the 7,000 older adult subjects they studied in the University of Michigan’s Health and Retirement Study.
http://www.mcknights.com/Online-social-supports-could-reduce-seniors-depression-save-healthcare-spending/article/155482/ or find the full report at www.phoenix-center.org
We’re encouraged to see research undertaken to quantify the benefits we’ve already seen emerging as we track Internet and social media trends within senior living. But as we have referenced in past posts, an important question for communities is how and when to start focusing on this area. We’ll be discussing that and other topics in an education session at the AAHSA Conference on Monday, November 9. If you’re attending, join us, or look for the presentation to be posted here later next month.
