The more elderly folks get left behind in the rapid integration of new technologies into everyday life, the more vulnerable they are to social isolation, says psychiatrist Lim Boon Leng.
SINGAPORE: Some years ago, I was in Melbourne on a tram, absorbed in mapping out my next destination on my phone. The elderly man next to me nudged me and said, with a sigh, “You young people these days - always glued to your phones. No one talks to each other anymore.”
Social isolation isn’t just a feeling. A 2020 US study found that it’s associated with significant increases in the risk of dementia, heart disease and stroke. Loneliness among heart failure patients is associated with significant increases in the risk of hospitalisation, A&E visits, and death. Many of my elderly patients complain that family members and friends increasingly opt for the convenience of a text or video call instead of visiting in person.
A 2023 study by the Singapore Management University found that while most elderly individuals have smartphones and are happy to use them for leisure, they’re reluctant to rely on them for functional purposes. This year’s SimplyGo saga showed how tough it can be for elders to switch to a different technology. Some elderly commuters were reported expressing discomfort with the inability to view remaining account balances at fare gates and having to perform everyday tasks like topping up card values and checking balances via a new mobile app.
Grassroots support from community centres and voluntary welfare organisations has been crucial in providing ongoing support and workshops for the elderly, but more can be done.
Digitalisation Senior Citizens Digital Literacy
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