Technology Use for Social Interaction Amongst Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

The COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on socialization across all age groups but older adults experienced additional challenges. The purpose of this study was to explore older adults’ perceptions and experiences of using technology to support social interactions during the COVID-19 pandemic. We used a qualitative interpretive descriptive approach to understand community dwelling older adults’ perceptions of their experiences. We analyzed data using an interpretive thematic analysis approach. Forty-one older adults (median age 74yrs) participated in in-depth interviews exploring experiences of using technology to support their social interaction during the pandemic. Participants discussed the transition towards virtual means of socialization during the pandemic, perceptions of using technology for social interaction, and challenges to adapting to virtual connection. We discuss our findings and the implications for how we introduce technology to older adults.