Technology Adoption Key to Healthy Aging

Philips and Georgetown University study finds that caregivers may be a barrier to technology adoption among seniors

MARKHAM, ON, Canada--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Philips and the Global Social Enterprise Initiative (GSEI) at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business released the final wave of a three-part aging study today. The study reveals that non-professional caregivers are unintentional barriers to technology adoption by seniors in their care – even though they acknowledge it can be an important way of enriching the care recipient’s life.

The Philips/GSEI study, which surveyed caregivers from Canada and the United States most likely to use technology as a caregiving tool, also revealed a series of contradictions in the attitudes and behaviours among the caregivers and their care recipients. These contradictions provide insights into the low adoption of technology for aging well.

According to the study:

• 44 percent of caregivers said they are concerned that the seniors in their care are depressed or lonely, and recognize the importance of entertainment and enrichment activities, such as social interaction, entertainment and education
• Similarly, 62 percent of those surveyed said enrichment for the care recipient is at, or near, the top of their priority list

Moreover, in one-on-one interviews with a group of care recipients, they most often cited social interaction as what matters most to them as they age, but 67 percent of caregivers report that the senior in their care has not started any new enrichment activities in the past two years and most often seek enrichment through watching television and talking on the phone.

The value of social interaction

It is not the caregiver’s lack of desire or ability that prevents them from introducing new technology to their care recipients. For instance, the study reveals that:

• 63 percent of caregivers believe their care recipient is open to using new technology
• Nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of caregivers said it is fun or extremely fun to teach a care recipient a new technology
• 72 percent feel capable of teaching a new technology

Perception versus reality

With the caregivers’ attitudes prone to share new technologies with their care recipient, why has this not become a reality? According to the study, time constraints revealed itself as a major factor. In fact, while 63 percent indicated that they believe they have the time to invest in teaching their care recipient a new technology, most caregivers in the study reported spending an average of 88 hours per month on caregiving activities. This is in addition to daily responsibilities – for instance, 72 percent work full-time and 76 percent have children in their household.

Additionally, when asked what they would do if technology could be employed to cut the time spent on caregiving duties in half, caregivers prioritized personal errands, quality time with their own family, and entertainment over spending more time with their senior loved one. In fact, only 17 percent of the recovered time would be allocated toward spending more time with their care recipient.

“Caregivers are so overwhelmed by the demands of managing basic needs that they tend to only think of technology as tools to save time or provide safety,” said Bill Novelli, GSEI founder and Georgetown McDonough professor. “We need to eliminate the disconnect between the caregivers’ ability to incorporate enriching technology into their care routines and their role in providing basic care for their loved ones.”

In addition to time constraints placed on the caregiver, the caregiver’s perception of what defines successful aging focuses on the health of the adult they are caring for. As a result, caregivers are viewing technology for aging well too narrowly and products aimed at caregivers primarily fall into the category of health and safety monitoring – which give caregiving peace of mind and comfort. However, there was virtually no mention of technology use for social interaction or enrichment among caregivers even though 73 percent acknowledge that the senior in their care will become more reliant on them for entertainment and enrichment as they age.

“The adoption of technology among seniors is crucial to healthy aging. And social isolation remains a major issue for many Canadian seniors,” said Iain Burns, President of Philips Canada. “This is why these studies are so critical, and why Philips Canada is committed to identifying connected health solutions and recommendations for how Canadians can better support the older adults in their lives.”

The results of this study were discussed at an expert roundtable at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business facilitated by Philips and GSEI in April 2015.

This study was the third conducted as part of a partnership between Philips and GSEI, which included “Aging Well: Next Generation Tech,” a 2013 survey on technology and aging at home, and “Aging Well: Creating Connected Communities for Aging Well,” a 2014 survey focused on aging and independence. The full results of the current study can be found at www.philips.com/caregiving.

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through meaningful innovation in the areas of Healthcare, Consumer Lifestyle and Lighting. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips posted 2014 sales of EUR 21.4 billion and employs approximately 108,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. The company is a leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as male shaving and grooming and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter

About The Georgetown Global Social Enterprise Initiative

The Global Social Enterprise Initiative at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business aims to prepare current and future leaders to make responsible management decisions that yield both economic and social value. Through practical training for global business leaders, the initiative promotes transformative solutions to and impactful investments in the world’s significant challenges in health and well-being, economic growth, the environment and international development. It is led by Distinguished Professor of the Practice Bill Novelli and Executive Director Ladan Manteghi. Learn more at http://socialenterprise.georgetown.edu

About Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business

Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business provides a transformational education through classroom and experiential learning, preparing students to graduate as principled leaders in the service to business and society. Through numerous centers, initiatives, and partnerships, Georgetown McDonough seeks to create a meaningful impact on business practice through both research and teaching. All academic programs provide a global perspective, woven through the undergraduate and graduate curriculum in a way that is unique to Washington, D.C. – the nexus of world business and policy – and to Georgetown University’s connections to global partner organizations and a world-wide alumni network. Founded in 1957, Georgetown McDonough is home to some 1,400 undergraduates, 1,000 MBA students, and 1,200 participants in executive degree or open enrollment programs. Learn more at http://msb.georgetown.edu. Follow us on Twitter: @msbgu.

Notes to the editor:

Methodology: The study “Family Matters in Caregiving and Tech Adoption,” conducted in partnership with Epitome Group, engaged in 20 paired qualitative interviews with caregivers and care recipients to assess technology use for caregiving among the general population. The data from those discussions, as well as secondary research on technology use among seniors, was then used to develop a quantitative survey which was given to a sample of 255 Americans and Canadians, aged 30-65, who were most likely to use technology for caregiving and have care recipients who were also technology users.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20150430005785/en/

Philips Canada
Santina Sandra Giuliano, 905-201-4196
Communications Manager
[email protected]
or
McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University
Teresa Mannix, 202-687-4080
[email protected]

Source: Royal Philips

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