Social
connectivity and, independent living key benefits, say seniors; new
research partnership with U of T to explore age-friendly
technologies
TORONTO, Canada, June 20, 2012
–
Digital communications may once have been the domain of the young, but
Canada’s senior citizens are increasingly crossing the digital divide,
according to new research from Revera,
a Canadian leader in seniors' accommodation, care and services. The
Revera Report on Tech-Savvy Seniors reveals that a growing army
of online seniors, aged 75 and older, are using digital technology for
everything from independent living to online shopping and more face time
with friends and family using platforms like
Skype. Further, three-quarters surveyed say they believe technology has the potential to make their lives easier.
According to Statistics Canada, only five per cent of seniors 75 and older were online in 2000[i];
today, that number has grown more than fivefold to 27 per cent[ii]. Recent data from Pew Research Center, a U.S.-based think-tank, showed 34 per cent of American seniors 75-plus
are now online[iii].
“The
computer is invaluable to me. I don’t know what I would do without it,”
said Bertha Kronenberg, 88, who stays in touch with family living in
South Africa from her computer
at Revera’s Forest Hill Place Retirement Residence in Toronto. “The
internet is a wonderful record of what is going on in the world.”
Revera Report on Tech-Savvy Seniors: Key Findings
·
Canadian
online seniors 75 and older are most inclined to use technology to keep
socially active. In fact, email has surpassed face to face contact as a
primary way
to keep in contact with friends and family.
·
Fifty-three
per cent are socializing via social networking sites like Facebook, and
one in five uses Skype or Facetime to speak with friends and family.
·
Eighty-eight per cent go online at least once a day.
·
Seven in 10 believe technology plays an important role in helping them live in their homes for as long as possible.
In
response to this growth, Revera is teaming up with the University of
Toronto’s Technologies for Aging Gracefully Lab (TAGlab) in a
three-year, $50,000/year research partnership.
Along with research and development at the University, the partnership
will see TAGlab researchers visiting Revera residences to conduct focus
groups and test new technologies.
“Our
shared goal is to create new advances in technology that will have a
positive impact on the lives of Canadian seniors,” says
Trish
Barbato, Senior Vice President of Home Health and Business Development
at Revera Inc. “There is such vast potential for technology to play a
pivotal role in helping seniors stay socially
active and independent - both benefits of the digital age that seniors
say are key.”
Dr.
Ronald Baecker, Founder and Lead Researcher at the TAGlab says while
not all seniors are currently embracing technology, the emerging trends
illustrate the growing place for
digital in helping seniors live their lives, the way they choose.
“We
know for instance that Canadians want to age at home,” says Dr.
Baecker. “One of the ways we can help them do this is by creating new
innovations that will address some of
the big challenges they face like isolation and home health care
monitoring. Our partnership with Revera will help us in our mission to
advance technology for health, well-being and graceful aging.”
TAGlab
is currently working on numerous devices to help social interaction
including a touch screen photo frame that sends messages to a loved
one’s email saying “I’m thinking
of you”. This message prompts the relative to record a video that
is transmitted back to the photo frame for viewing by the senior. New
kinds of electronic books that enhance the experience of reading is
another area of focus for TAGlab.
About the Revera Report on Tech-Savvy Seniors
Revera, in partnership with Leger Marketing, surveyed
online Canadians aged 55-64, 65-74 and seniors 75+ to find out their attitudes and behaviours around technology use.
The survey was completed online from
January 23, 2012 to February 3, 2012 using Leger Marketing’s online
panel, LegerWeb, with a sample of 1532 Canadians in the following age
groups: 500 Canadians age 55 to 64, 513 Canadians
ages 65 to 74; and 519 Canadians age 75+. A probability sample of the
same size would yield a margin of error of ±2.5 per cent, 19 times out
of 20.
The
Revera Report on Tech-Savvy Seniors is one in a series of reports that
will be issued by Revera exploring different topics relevant to the
aging experience of Canadian seniors.
About Revera Inc.
Revera
is a leading provider of seniors’ accommodation, care and services;
built on 50-year history of helping seniors live life to the fullest.
Our nearly 30,000 dedicated employees
continually strive to serve a diverse group of clients and to offer
choices to meet their individual preferences. With more than 250 sites
across Canada and parts of the U.S., we work to enhance lives in our
retirement communities, long term care homes, U.S.
nursing and rehab centres and through the provision of home health
services. Canadian-owned and operated, Revera serves approximately
30,000 clients every day, with the core values of respect, integrity,
compassion and excellence at the heart of our business.
Find out more about Revera at www.reveraliving.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter.
About TAGlab
TAGlab
is a research team in the Department of Computer Science at the
University of Toronto that collaborates with clinicians and researchers
from the health sciences across
North America. TAGlab conducts research for the journey through life
(see also
http://taglab.utoronto.ca/). TAGlab's mission is to enable full
participation in society by normally aging senior citizens, and by
individuals with special needs — e.g.,
people afflicted by Alzheimer’s disease (AD), mild
cognitive impairment (MCI), aphasia, strokes, multiple sclerosis (MS),
or vision loss. This is done by identifying "sweet spots" where
technology seems relevant to human needs, envisioning ways in which the
technology could address a problem, then designing,
building, testing, and where possible commercializing solutions.
For further information please contact:
Kristen
Marano
Environics
Communications
(416)
969-2730
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