Assistive technology, computers and Internet may decrease sense of isolation for homebound elderly and disabled persons

Autor:	William Poppen, Natalie Bradley
Rok vydání:	2003
Předmět:	Gerontology Isolation (health care) business.industry media_common.quotation_subject Rehabilitation Health Informatics Online community Friendship Intervention (counseling) Assistive technology Medicine The Internet business media_common
Zdroj:	Technology and Disability. 15:19-25
ISSN:	1878-643X 1055-4181
DOI:	10.3233/tad-2003-15104
Popis:	In an interesting twist to the initial fear that the access to internet would result in a more isolative community, the CHIPs program (Computers for Homebound and Isolated Persons) inspired an online community for individuals who were homebound. The subjects began to get to know one another through the Internet, thereby making virtual friends with others in similar circumstances. Elderly citizens, disabled individuals and caregivers found themselves with a new sense of camaraderie and friendship. A one-year follow up to a questionnaire indicates that the subjects’ level of satisfaction in the amount of contact with others increased significantly. These results suggest that the intervention may cause significant changes in the lives of isolated individuals, a change worthy of more formalized research.
Databáze:	OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz:	https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_________::2657571216be421d2d573047a364b6e6 https://doi.org/10.3233/tad-2003-15104 Zobrazit plný text záznamu Plný text ve formátu PDF