Study shows how social media can prevent decline in older people’s health
- 16 Dec
An Exeter study has found that elderly people should use Facebook and other social media websites to prevent their health declining.
According to the research, older people who spend time online do not feel as lonely as others their age, which could slow down the deterioration of physical and mental health. Reports Exeter Express and Echo.
This two-year project conducted by the University of Exeter in partnership with Somerset Care Ltd and Torbay & Southern Devon Health and Care NHS Trust involved a group of 76 old people ranging from 60 - 95 years old. Their backgrounds were varied; as some were chosen from those receiving care in the community and others chosen from those living in any of the not-for-profit organisation's 26 residential care homes.
They were given a specially-designed computer, broadband connection and training in how to use them. Over time, half of the participants who received training as opposed to the other half who received normal care became more positive about computers. it was found that the participants mostly enjoyed connecting with friends and relatives via Skype and email.
Those trained showed intensified feelings of self-competence, were more socially engaged, had a stronger sense of personal identity and showed improved intellectual capacity. These factors led indirectly led to better mental health and well-being.
Experts concluded that these results could help cope with the health problems of an increasingly ageing population.
Dr Thomas Morton of the University of Exeter, who led the project in the UK stated, "Human beings are social animals, and it's no surprise that we tend to do better when we have the capacity to connect with others. But what can be surprising is just how important social connections are to cognitive and physical health. People who are socially isolated or who experience loneliness are more vulnerable to disease and decline. For these reasons finding ways to support people's social connections is a really important goal. This study shows how technology can be a useful tool for enabling social connections, and that supporting older people in our community to use technology effectively can have important benefits for their health and well-being."
Margaret Keohone, a participant of the study stated, "Having this training changes people's lives and opens up their worlds, invigorates their minds and for lots of us gives us a completely different way of recognising our worth as we age. I was just slipping away into a slower way of life."
Emma Green, the Care Technologist from Somerset Care who delivered training to those in the study stated, "As the training programme developed with my participants their confidence grew and they were keen to tell me how family members had emailed back, Skyped or ‘liked' a comment or a picture on Facebook. Seeing the smiles on my participant's faces when they Skyped a family member in the UK or abroad was such a special moment".
What do you think of this? Tweet us your comments @suppsolutions
This blog post has been written by our sister company The Media Bubble who specialise in social media for the social sector.
Image source: http://www.freeimages.com/assets/3/26620/laptop-computers-1446068-m.jpg
Related articles
- 03 Nov
THERE IS AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS WHO WAIT LONG HOURS IN AMBULANCES BEFORE BEING ATTENDED TO
Reports by The Guardian shows details from the FOI requests which found that:According to the shadow health secretary, Jon Ashworth:"These figures show an ambulance service pushed to the brink by...
- 08 Aug
DATA REVEALS THAT OVER 40% OF MATERNITY WARDS IN ENGLAND REJECTED EXPECTANT MOTHERS AT LEAST ONCE LAST YEAR
The data which was the outcome of a Freedom of Information request reveals the following:Jonathan Ashworth, the Shadow health secretary, said:"These findings show the devastating impact which Tory...
- 04 Aug
PARENTS AND CHILDCARE PROVIDERS ARE FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO ACCESS SERVICES ON THE "CHILDCARE CHOICES" WEBSITE
Many parents have reported problems while using the Childcare Choices website in May and struggled to register on it. However, HMRC apologised for the inconvenience, saying it had improved the...
- 01 Aug
HOSPITAL BUILDING PLANS TO CLOSE FOR A YEAR DUE TO FIRE SAFETY PROBLEMS
After a review of buildings, 52 inpatient beds will be moved from the trauma unit of John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, on the 4th of August.According to the NHS trust overseeing the site, a...
- 26 Jul
THERE IS INSUFFICIENT CARE AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN WITH SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS
New figures on mental health showed the following:The author of an EPI report on children's mental health, Emily Frith, said:"Being in hospital for a mental health condition can be a disturbing...
- 20 Jul
REPORT WARNS THAT VULNERABLE ADULTS ARE BEING LET DOWN BY SOCIAL WORKERS AND CARE PROVIDERS
According to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman review:Local government and social care ombudsman, Michael King, said:"While I appreciate the complex emotional and practical decisions...
- 14 Jul
ONE OF SCOTLAND'S LARGEST HEALTH BOARDS HAS OVERSPENT ON CARE SERVICES
Prior to a meeting of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (IJB) today, the following figures emerged:The entire NHS Lothian budget shows a funding gap of £22.4m and the IJB agreed to savings of...
- 07 Jul
SURVEY FINDS THAT MENTAL HEALTH DEMANDS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE THIS YEAR
The poll by NHS Providers suggests the following:Louise Rubin of the charity, Mind, said:"We are concerned that people coming forward and seeking help for mental health problems are not getting the...
- 16 Jun
ADASS ISSUES GUIDANCE FOR SOCIAL WORKERS ON HOW TO PROTECT VULNERABLE ADULTS FROM SCAMS
The guidance by the ADASS includes the following:Vice President of ADASS, Glen Garrod, said:"Carers, families and neighbours need to be more aware of abuse, which can see older and disabled people...
- 07 Jun
THE WELSH GOVERNMENT PAYS BACK TO FAMILIES WHO WRONGLY PAID CARE HOME FEES
A Welsh Government spokesman said:"Earlier this year we introduced an amended process in order to accelerate the speed at which claims are processed."We have also developed common reporting criteria...
Responding to the DWP Consultation: Housing Benefit Reform - Supported Housing "It was well-run, in a good location, and very useful. I've only one suggestion; as the session went on it would perhaps have been useful for bullet points of general agreement about what should be in the sector response to be displayed and added to as the session went on, maybe on a flip chart. Regarding your response paper, I particularly like the answer you give to question 9. In fact the general: "if it ain't broke don't fix it" response could be pushed harder." M.P. - Adref Ltd
