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ICT for development

Older adults and family caregivers are willing to use new technologies (such as telemedicine and telepharmacy) that can allow people to remain independent - and in their own homes - as they age. This report is based on national surveys of adults in the United States age 65+  and carers age 45-75.  It looks at awareness, willingness to use, and perceived benefits or barriers of using:

• personal computers
• home safety devices - alarms, light sensors, etc.
• personal health and  wellness items - personal emergency response systems. telephone/tv based health monitoring
  

Key findings include the following:

• while older adults have a limited awareness of new technologies that could help them meet their goals, they would be willing to use a wide variety of items to maintain social contact, gather information, be safe at home, and promote their personal health and wellness
  
• three-quaters of older adults support the use of telemedicine to diagnose or monitor health conditions remotely in their home, while more than 9 in 10 support the use of telepharmacy to have their doctor monitor their medications and send prescriptions to the pharmacy
  
• like older adults, caregivers also say that they would be willing to use new technologies to meet their needs in the caregiving role; however, more than 8 in 10 think they will have difficulty persuading the people they care for use these items
  
• both groups are concerned about the costs associated with new technologies

The author concludes that elderly adults and carers could benefit by knowing more about the range of technological innovations that are available today (and those that are on the horizon). More evidence-based  research on the benefits of devices is required, but also we need to understand more about the cost implications of innovations. The report also acknowledges that finally there comes time when care-recipients require more personal attention that new technologies cannot yet offer.

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