A literature review study of Information and Communication Technology as a support for frail older people living at home and their family carers

Abstract

This literature review study focused on the use of information and communication technology (ICT) as a support for frail older people living at home and their family carers. A number of international ageing studies have examined older people's attitudes towards new technology and the effects of training on attitudes and receptivity towards technology. Within the field of elder care, there are an increasing number of studies that have explored the effectiveness of telecare and telehealth services in the home. In particular, there are innovative examples of studies that examine the use of a range of information and support systems in the home. These studies often target family carers of older persons with chronic illness. A key theme within the literature is the importance of the user friendliness of ICT services. For many EU countries, a key question is the extent to which the international studies are transferable, not least due to issues of language. Currently, there are a dearth of studies that involve working together with frail older people and their family carers to search for new ICT solutions to meet their support needs.