The Role of Technology in Supporting Social Engagement Among Older Adults

Social connectively and meaningful social engagement have long been heralded as important components of successful aging. For example, Rowe and Kahn’s model of successful aging (Rowe & Kahn, 1998) as well as the Proactivity Model of Successful Aging (Kahana & Kahana, 1996, 2001) posit that engaging in social activities and using social resources is important to maintaining a good quality of life in older age. It has also been shown that social goals and maintaining close social relationships are a priority in later life (e.g. Carstensen, Fung, & Charles, 2003). Yet many older adults, due to changes in life circumstances, are socially isolated and lonely. For example, loss of a social network through changes in life roles such as retirement, loss of a partner or friends, and the onset of a chronic illness or disabling condition can also result in lack of social ties and risk for loneliness. Estimates suggest that 19–30% of older adults suffer from loneliness. For example, data from a recent survey of a population-based sample of older adults indicated that 19% of the respondents suffered from loneliness and an additional 19% feel lonely often or some of the time (Hawkley, Kozloski, & Wong, 2017). Social isolation and loneliness are especially prevalent among older adults who have mobility restrictions, live alone or in rural locations, are of lower socio-economic status, or are in the older cohorts. In 2015, about 28% of all non-institutionalized persons aged 65+ in 2015 lived alone. Living alone is more prevalent with advanced age, especially among women (Administration on Aging, 2016). Generally, social isolation refers to lack of social ties and a social network, while loneliness refers to a perceived lack of meaningful social companionship. Social support, which is related to social connectivity, refers to the provision of emotional, instrumental, or informational support to an individual (Cohen, 2004).