Tearing down walls for the homebound elderly

It is estimated that by 2030, there will be about 70 million older adults, more than twice their number in 1990 1, indicating a growing number of frail elderly who are more likely to become socially isolated because of chronic health conditions due to advancing age. The purpose of this study was determine if emerging telecommunication technologies could help to change the social framework of homebound and mobility-limited people's lives. Four plain-old-telephone-service (POTs) -based videoconferencing units were placed in the homes of shut-in elderly for six months. Interviews conducted at three time points indicate participants felt more connected to their community because of the technology.