Three Perspectives on Older Adults' Daily Performance, Health, and Technology Use During COVID-19: Focus Group Study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Health Informatics
• Sociology of Technology

Background:

• COVID-19 lockdowns significantly impacted older adults' daily activities, leading to negative health outcomes.
• While technology use increased, older adults experienced difficulties in adoption and effective utilization.
• The perspectives of older adults, their families, and health professionals on technology use during this period were underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of healthy, independent Israeli older adults (≥65 years) regarding daily activities, health, and technology use during COVID-19.
• To investigate these experiences from the distinct viewpoints of older adults, their family members, and healthcare professionals.

Main Methods:

• Conducted nine online focus groups with a total of 59 participants, including older adults, family members, and health professionals.
• Employed thematic analysis and constant comparative methods for data analysis.

Main Results:

• A central theme emerged concerning the interplay between daily activity performance and health, with differing group priorities.
• Older adults emphasized self-fulfillment and choice in routines, particularly social-familial ones.
• Family members and health professionals focused on COVID-19's health consequences, while all groups agreed on technology's role in overcoming functional limitations and enabling daily engagement.

Conclusions:

• The study reveals a complex relationship between daily activities, health, and technology use in older adults, viewed through a multi-dimensional lens.
• Understanding older adults' needs and preferences is crucial for enhancing their technology adoption and digital activity performance.
• Future interventions should focus on motivational and preference-based approaches to improve older adults' engagement with technology.