Assistive Technology, Computers, and Internet May Decrease Sense of Isolation for Homebound Elderly and Disabled Persons
By Bradley, Natalie; Poppen, William; Technology and Disability, Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 19-25Publication Date: 2003
Study evaluating the Computers for Homebound and Isolated Persons (CHIPs) program, which is an online community for individuals who are elderly and homebound. The program enabled its participants to get to know one another and make friends with others living under similar circumstances. The CHIPs program was evaluated to find a potential correlation between people with disabilities and their levels of loneliness, and how assistive technology could affect their feelings of isolation. A questionnaire was completed by each of the program’s applicants. The questions were designed to assess the participants’ feelings of satisfaction derived from the program. Data concerning levels of satisfaction were collected based on scores reported on a scale from one to five. After a year of participating in the CHIPs program, the same survey was administered to each participant. The results indicated that the participants’ felt that their involvement in the program led to increased social contact.
Published by: IOS Press (Website:http://www.iospress.nl)
Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe (AAATE) (Web Site: http://www.aaate.net )
This publication is included in the library of the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC), accession number J45811
