Alexander Seifert

The use of mobile devices for physical activity tracking in older adults’ everyday life:

Objective The tracking of one’s own physical activity with mobile devices is a way of monitoring and motivating oneself to remain healthy. Older adults’ general use of mobile devices for physical activity tracking has not yet been examined systematically. The study aimed to describe the use of physical activity trackers, smartwatches and smartphones, or tablets for tracking physical activity and to examine the reasons for the use of these technologies. Methods Participants aged ≥50 years (N = 1013) living in Switzerland were interviewed in a telephone survey. To address the research questions, we calculated descriptive frequency distributions, tested for differences between groups, and performed logistic regression analyses. Results Descriptive and multivariate analyses showed that (a) 20.5% of participants used mobile devices for physical activity tracking; (b) men, younger individuals, those with a strong interest in new technology, and those who frequently exercised had a higher likelihood of using mobile devices for physical activity tracking; and (c) participants more often agreed with reasons for use relating to tracking physical activity and motivating oneself to remain healthy than they did with reasons relating to social factors. Conclusions The study presented representative data about the actual use of mobile tracking technology in persons over 50 years of age. Today, mainly active and younger elderly (mostly men) with a high interest in technology are using tracking technologies. Results indicate a need for further studies on motivational and usability aspects regarding the use of mobile health tracking devices by older adults.

They also do it: Internet use by older adults living in residential care facilities

ABSTRACT The Internet has gained much importance as a resource for older adults during recent years, for example, as a resource for maintaining lifelong learning. However, available studies targeting the adoption of the Internet have mostly focused on young-old, healthy, and community-dwelling adults. To our knowledge, no study has yet examined Internet use among individuals living in residential care facilities (RCF), that is, old–old adults with a range of functional impairments. We provide data on the Internet use in a large sample of 1,212 residents (mean age, 87.9 years) living in 24 RCFs in Zurich, Switzerland. We found that 14% of residents used the Internet, a very similar proportion as previously reported in a Swiss survey of older adults in private households. However, when stratified according to age, individuals aged 65–84 years in RCFs had lower Internet use compared with community-dwelling older adults (21% versus 65%, respectively). No difference was observed among individuals aged ≥85 years. Compared with non-users, Internet users were more likely to be younger, male, living for a shorter duration in RCF, not living alone in the institution, and healthier and functionally unimpaired. Internet users also described themselves as having higher autonomy and satisfaction with life. In conclusion, Internet use has reached (at least in Switzerland) the long-term care sector and appears to play a significant role in the lives of a considerable portion of RCF residents.

Willingness of Older Adults to Share Mobile Health Data with Researchers

This study explored the use of wearable devices to track self-recorded health data and the willingness to share this data with researchers. Participants aged ≥ 50 years (n = 1,013) were interviewed in a representative telephone survey. Results indicated that 43.3% of all participants used one or more mobile devices (activity tracker, smartwatch, smartphone, or tablet), and that 27.6% used those devices for the purposes of recording health data. Additionally, 57.2% of the participants who tracked their health data were willing to share it with researchers. Income significantly contributed to predicting this willingness, whereas other independent variables were not significant predictors. This study indicates a relatively positive overall willingness to share self-recorded mobile health data with the science community.

Freiwilliges Engagement im Alter

ZusammenfassungHintergrundÄltere Personen engagieren sich in unterschiedlichen Kontexten und Formen freiwillig für andere, jedoch unterscheiden sich die Intensität sowie die Ausübungsformen mit dem Alter.Ziel der ArbeitDer vorliegende Bericht versucht die Altersunterschiede der freiwilligen Arbeit am Beispiel der aktiven Mitgliedschaft in einem Verein, der informellen persönlichen Hilfeleistung und der Nachbarschaftshilfe herauszuarbeiten und beeinflussende Faktoren dieses Engagements zu analysieren.Material und MethodeDatengrundlage ist die repräsentative Bevölkerungsbefragung der Stadt Zürich von 2011, bei der 2500 Personen ab 18 Jahren telefonisch befragt werden konnten. Neben deskriptiven Auswertungen werden 2 binäre logistische Regressionen gerechnet.ErgebnisseDie Intensität des ehrenamtlichen Engagements von Personen ab 80 Jahren ist zwar geringer als das von Jüngeren, jedoch zeigt die Analyse auch, dass dennoch einige Personen in diesem Alter freiwillige Arbeit leisten. Das ehrenamtliche Engagement steigt dabei mit der Pensionierung an, sinkt jedoch mit dem höheren Alter wieder. Neben den Altersunterschieden konnte gezeigt werden, dass andere Personenmerkmale und strukturelle Gegebenheiten eine freiwillige Tätigkeit positiv beeinflussen.SchlussfolgerungÄltere und jüngere Personen engagieren sich freiwillig für andere, wenn auch in ihrem eigenen Umfang. Ein ehrenamtliches Bemühen von älteren Menschen sollte durch eine externe, quartiernahe Koordination gefördert werden.AbstractBackgroundThe elderly get involved in voluntary work in various forms, however, the intensity of their involvement and the way they do so changes with age.AimsThe paper attempts to outline how differences in age influence voluntary work, looking specifically at active membership in associations, informal personal assistance, and neighbourly support. In addition, factors that influence this involvement were analysed.Materials and MethodsThe data set comprises a representative telephone survey of the population of Zurich in 2011. We interviewed 2,500 people above the age of 18. Besides using descriptive analyses, two binary logistical regressions are calculated.ResultsWhile the intensity of voluntary commitment of persons above the age of 80 is lower than that of younger persons, the analysis shows that some people in this age group get involved in voluntary work. Involvement in voluntary work increases with retirement but declines again with increased age. Apart from the differences according to age, other personal traits and structural conditions have a positive influence on a person’s voluntary activities.ConclusionOlder and younger persons support others voluntarily, even if it is only to a small extent. The voluntary commitment of the elderly should be supported through external local assistance.

Attitudes toward aging and retirement homes before and after entry into a retirement home

ABSTRACT The change of ones habitual living conditions in favor of institutionalized living in a retirement home can be a stressful event. Therefore, the question arises: How does entry into a retirement home affect attitudes toward ones life and aging and toward retirement homes? In order to answer this question, we used longitudinal data from 53 older individuals who were surveyed before and after entry into a retirement home. The data revealed that attitudes toward ones life and aging changed negatively and attitudes toward retirement homes changed positively; however, there are gains and losses in both attitudes.

Young at heart and online? Subjective age and internet use in two Swiss survey studies

ABSTRACT Subjective age (SA) indicates how old a person feels. SA has been found to be a marker of an individual’s physical and psychological functioning and openness for new aging experiences. Thus, it can be generally considered as beneficial in promoting healthy aging. We hypothesized that the younger a person feels, the more likely he or she will use the Internet. We evaluated two secondary analyses based on two cross-sectional and representative telephone surveys of 1790 participants (n = 1299, age ≥ 70 years; n = 491, age ≥ 65 years) in Switzerland. Univariate and multivariate analyses, controlled for a number of relevant confounders, confirmed the relationship between lowered SA and heightened Internet use. Given that we were able to analyze two relatively large and representative data sets, we regard our findings, although based on cross-sectional studies, as rather robust. Longitudinal research is required to examine the causal direction of this relationship.

Internetnutzung von Bewohnern stationärer Alterspflegeeinrichtungen

Die Mehrheit der Bevölkerung nutzt das Internet als Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie. Ältere Menschen gehören bisher noch selten zu den Internetnutzern. Bei der wissenschaftlichen Erforschung des Phänomens „Digitale Spaltung zwischen Jung und Alt“ wurden vorwiegend ältere Personen in Privathaushalten untersucht, jedoch nicht die Internetnutzung in der stationären Alterspflege. Dass sie nun auch dort angekommen ist, zeigen erste Ergebnisse einer Schweizer Befragungsstudie bei Bewohnern der stationären Alterspflege.ZusammenfassungDas Internet hat Einzug in stationäre Altenpflegeeinrichtungen gehalten, und gerade neue Bewohner fragen immer häufiger nach einem Internetanschluss im Haus. Für die Studie wurden 730 Bewohner und Bewohnerinnen von 18 stationären Altenpflegeeinrichtungen befragt. 15% von ihnen nutzen das Internet. Ob sie On- oder Offliner sind, hängt dabei von persönlichen Faktoren wie Geschlecht, Alter oder Pflegestufe ab. Die Auswertung weist zudem auf einen Zusammenhang zwischen Internetnutzung und gefühlter Selbstständigkeit hin. Für die Einrichtungen gilt, den weiteren Verlauf der technischen Entwicklung im pflegerischen Kontext zu beobachten und entsprechende Angebote zu schaffen.