ICT use allows older people to communicate, recreate and learn new knowledge during the pandemic

SANTO DOMINGO. - The use of Information and Communications Technology (TIC) has allowed older people in the Dominican Republic, Argentina and Costa Rica to maintain communication with family and friends, learn new knowledge and recreate, during the mandatory confinement caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This was determined by the “Survey of cases in older people on daily activities and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in times of pandemic”, Carried out by a team of interdisciplinary researchers from the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo, the National University of Costa Rica and the Maimonides University of Argentina, published in the Revista Tecnológica-Educativa Docentes 2.0 and presented at the V International Virtual Congress on Learning and Knowledge Technologies.

About a year ago and with the interest of knowing the conditions in which older people live, researchers Aurora Concepción-Breton, Ismael Corrales-Camacho, María Elena Córdoba, María Encarnación Acosta-Hernández, Osvaldo Isidro Larancuent-Cueto and Yandra Lliranilza De La Cruz-Morel began collecting information on their quality of life, when they were surprised by the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the study, which was exploratory, with a mixed approach and a non-experimental cross-sectional design, 82 older people were surveyed, through the Google Forms platform, of which 56 are from Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic; 15 from Heredia, in Costa Rica; and 11 from the province of Córdoba in Argentina. The average age proportion of the interviewees was 68 years, with the highest distribution between 65-70 (41.9%); 70-75 (23.1%); 60-65 (12.9%).

53% of those interviewed indicated that they work, 30% said they were unemployed and 17% that they are retired. Within the work activities of those who work, they indicated the following: 55% have a liberal profession, consulting or trade; 30% are public or private employees; and 15% are dedicated to teaching.

Labor impact of the pandemic and state of mind

More than half of those surveyed (51.2%) responded that the pandemic had an impact on their productivity, either because they were unable to continue with the job they had or their income decreased due to a decrease in work. When questioned about their moods, 71% responded to be stressed and 10% regular, only 19% of the people interviewed indicated that they felt good. The most frequent sensations expressed in those who reported being stressed were: worry (14%), fear (22%), uncertainty (13%), moodiness (8%) and stress (14%).

Internet access and services

96.3% of the older people consulted indicated that they have access to the Internet, of that total, 48.8% pay for the service, 32.9% said that their family pays for it and 18.3% indicated that other people who are not relatives do it .

Activities carried out on the Personal Computer (PC)

Among the activities that older adults carry out on the personal or desktop computer, 41% indicated that learning such as, for example: reading information or books, watching instructional videos, studying and learning new knowledge and skills, writing documents, among others. 17.4% of the interviewees use the computer to make calls; 11% surf the Internet; another 11% for use of social networks; and others (chat, exercises, therapy, novels, virtual meetings).

Tasks performed with the Smart Phone or Smartphone

Activities related to learning with cell phones reached 36%. Among the grouped tasks they cited: reading information or books, watching instructional videos, studying and learning new knowledge, including languages and skills, writing documents, among others. 17.7% of those interviewed indicated that they use the cell phone to make calls; 12.4%, to chat or text; 11.3% to watch videos; 11.1% to surf the Internet; 8.7% social networks. In summary, 36 percent use it to learn something and with a slight increase, 39 percent, to be in communication.

Accompaniment of the interviewees

When asked about who they live with, the people interviewed answered that with relatives in 76.8%; 20.7% indicated that they live alone, and the rest with friends or a service. This population is accompanied in 77% of the cases, which, for the impact of the confinement of the pandemic, does not provide as much information in relation to isolation as those who live alone, which in the case of this sample reached 21% only.

However, it should be noted that, in the data collected in the three countries, the importance of ICTs to maintain communication with family and friends is evident, since this is a determining factor for a healthy old age. The repercussions of social isolation for the elderly cannot yet be fully measured and it is undeniable that the bridge that technologies build between isolation and bonding, even if it is virtual, will surely mitigate the emotional and psychological damage of this population.

The objective of the study is to offer data that allow the authorities and related organizations to act to design the public policies that are required in favor of the care and protection of the elderly, as well as to sensitize the general population to assume a more inclusive attitude and respectful.