ABSTRACT

This study explores self-reports of 241 older adults (aged 63–95) regarding loneliness and social disconnectedness, and the potential for information and communication technologies (ICT) and ride-hailing services to mitigate these phenomena. The samples are drawn from four older adult living communities in Maricopa County, Arizona. Lonelier older adults and older adults desiring greater social connections with friends, family, and outsiders appear to use ICT less and might benefit from ride-hailing services more than their less lonely and more socially connected counterparts. These findings are nuanced and depend on ICT device, type of ride-hailing service, and purpose of use. While desires for ride-hailing services were generally low, these services show promise in alleviating loneliness and increasing social connectedness, especially as older adults prepare to cease driving. Advice for implementing interventions and strategies to decrease the loneliness and increase social connectedness of community-dwelling older adults is elucidated and shared.

摘要

本研究探讨了 241 名老年人（63-95 岁）关于孤独和社会脱节的自我报告，以及信息和通信技术 (ICT) 和叫车服务缓解这些现象的潜力。样本来自亚利桑那州马里科帕县的四个老年人居住社区。较孤独的老年人和希望与朋友、家人和外人建立更多社交联系的老年人似乎较少使用 ICT，并且可能比不那么孤独且社交联系更紧密的同行更能从叫车服务中受益。这些发现是细微的，取决于 ICT 设备、叫车服务的类型和使用目的。虽然对叫车服务的需求普遍较低，但这些服务在减轻孤独感和增加社交联系方面显示出前景，尤其是当老年人准备停止驾驶时。阐明并分享了实施干预措施和策略以减少社区居住的老年人的孤独感和增加社会联系的建议。