Ageing Int (2008) 32:1–2 DOI 10.1007/s12126-008-9007-2

Introduction to Special Section on Aging and the Internet Hongtu Chen

Published online: 28 February 2008 # Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2008

The Internet is no longer a novelty for mere exploration; it is becoming part of everyday life for all sectors of people. Aging is no longer an event to happen in the future; it is becoming part of the reality in every contemporary society. The past decade has witnessed the rapid growth of these two global trends. When these two trends meet, as we have seen in America, Europe, Japan, China, and elsewhere, tremendous opportunities emerge to achieve what gerontologists have always wanted to accomplish for older adults, including, enhancing: – –

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Health literacy—Internet-based health information can assist older adults in communicating with health care professionals, in the effective use of health services, and in improving their health outcomes. Functional independence—The emergence of the Internet-based services, such as online shopping, online banking, and online travel services, are becoming a promising aid to promote functional independence and improve quality of life for older adults. Quality of life—The Internet helps elderly people successfully engage and interact with the world through its access to resources for continuing education, interpersonal communication, news and entertainment. Social connectedness—The Internet offers the possibility of reducing social isolation among at-risk older adults, reaching family members and friends instantly beyond geographical boundaries, and increasing social, economic, and political participation for all groups.

Meanwhile, challenges to connectedness also arise. How can we facilitate older adults both getting connected, and being able to effectively navigate the enormous resources of the Internet world? Is there an elder-friendly web design that can attract older adults, accommodate their age-related impairments, and most of all, create a meaningful and beneficial experience for them? How would the experience and H. Chen (*) Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 1249 Boylston Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02215, USA e-mail: [email protected]

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Ageing Int (2008) 32:1–2

activities with the Internet be linked to, or coordinated with, other services and resources that are available to an older adult? One of the difficulties in finding a definite answer to any of these questions, and in studying the interaction between the Internet and aging in general, is that both sides are in the flux of rapid changes, both are complex systems full of variations and possibilities, and both are continually adapting to each other over time. Three articles included in this issue provide a glimpse of this emerging field of research—the study of the Internet and aging. Eun-Shim Nahm and colleagues from Maryland, USA, have focused their research on developing and using technologybased health interventions for older adults. While working on the topic, they recognized the need for an instrument to assess older adults’ self-efficacy for Webbased learning. Patricia Weitzman and colleagues from Boston are developing a health educational and support website for family caregivers of Hispanic family members caring for relatives with dementia. David Mellor and colleagues from Australia are trying to evaluate the psychosocial benefit of utilizing the internet particularly with regard to reducing social isolation.