title: You can teach an old dog new tricks: a qualitative analysis of how residents of senior living communities may use the web to overcome spatial and social barriers.
abstract: For adults in senior living communities, information and communication technologies (ICTs) can be used to increase and expand communication for a population that is often spatially and socially separated from the general public. Using qualitative observational data from a longitudinal study of the impact of ICT usage on the quality of life among residents in assisted and independent living communities, the authors examine whether ICTs can mitigate the effects of social and spatial barriers. The authors find that ICTs have the potential to allow individuals to transcend social and spatial barriers, providing residents with the ability to maintain and enhance social networks as well as provide a greater sense of connection to the world at large.
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Winstead
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Yost
authors.forename: Shelia R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Cotten
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Warr
authors.forename: Ronald W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Berkowsky
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D040561:Assisted Living Facilities; D003200:Computer User Training / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000523:psychology; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D036301:Qualitative Research; D058992:Social Participation / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: ICT; quality of life; social gerontology