Reducing Social Isolation of Older Adults during COVID-19 with High-Tech Connectivity, Safety, and Exploration Ideas

Posted on by Iowa Association of Area Agencies on Aging

Guest Contributors Theresa Davison and Joe Sample Science and technology have enhanced the opportunity for older adults to connect more with their world than ever before. The burgeoning field of gerontechnology is creating environments for independent living and social participation for older adults through technology (International Society for Geotechnology, 2020). There are two lines of … Continue reading Reducing Social Isolation of Older Adults during COVID-19 with High-Tech Connectivity, Safety, and Exploration Ideas

Low-tech Ways for Older Adults to Stay Connected During COVID-19

Posted on by Iowa Association of Area Agencies on Aging

Guest Contributors Kay Vanags and Emily Winker Finding ways to stay connected during COVID-19 can be a challenge. Despite 90% of individuals between ages 65-69 and 44% of individuals age 80+ using the internet (Anderson & Perrin, 2017), connectivity can still be lacking in places like rural Iowa. Many of the ways older adults are … Continue reading Low-tech Ways for Older Adults to Stay Connected During COVID-19

Social Isolation and Elder Abuse During COVID-19: What Experts Say We Can Do

Posted on by Iowa Association of Area Agencies on Aging

Guest Contributors: Angie Guss and Crystal Doig The COVID-19 virus has been referred to as a “hidden enemy.” The policy response to this hidden enemy was to stay home or “shelter-in-place.” As older adults participated in these policy recommendations and mandates, another opportunistic, hidden enemy strengthened itself in the sheltered shadows of COVID-19: elder abuse. … Continue reading Social Isolation and Elder Abuse During COVID-19: What Experts Say We Can Do