Years of the research: 2010 - 2011
Country: Hungary
Language: Hungarian
Keywords:
Abstract:
The paper presents the results of a model programme in Hungary designed to test the hypothesis that internet-illiterate old people receiving long-term care at home would cease to feel lonely if they could learn to use Skype.
Researchers:
Type of research: local
Target group: Lonely digitally illiterate home care recipients over 75 years old, with limited outdoor mobility.
Sample:
5 older persons receiving home care without internet skill in a county seat (Székesfehérvár), 10 older persons receiving home care without internet skill in the 3rd district of the capital (Budapest), average age was 82 years. The majority of participants were women; two men had been blue-collar workers, the others were white-collar workers (with secondary or tertiary education).
Aims/Objectives/Background:
In Hungary despite the improving trend the level of infocommunications skills of the elderly is still very low. The aim of the model programme was to prove that if lonely digitally illiterate home care recipients over 75 years old could learn to use Skype, loneliness would cease and their network of family relations would expand.
Findings/outcome/conclusion/research questions:
The research resulted in a wide range of positive impacts on micro, meso and macro levels. The relationships affected different actors on micro level: older persons; young volunteers; family members; family carers; interpersonal contacts of older people. These actors continuously interacted. The elderly came into contact with all generations in society, resulting in a strong network of intensive intergenerational and intragenerational relationships. Through their personal contacts with the young volunteers the previously very limited network of contacts of the elderly gradually expanded through the opportunities provided by the internet (Skype, Facebook, chat, etc.). The communication via Skype not only strengthened family relationships but also helped family members and the carer by improving the elderly person’s mental state without the need for physical activity on the part of the carer (e.g. travel, visits). It was the transfer of knowledge from the youngest actors that made possible this change in the network of contacts. The rapid and positive result of the transfer is linked to the regular voluntary activity, in the new form of “playful” volunteering. For the young people the volunteering, one of the subjects they take at school, became enjoyable, not just something they had to do. The internet is an integral part of their daily activity, an indispensable element of their contacts and leisure activities; the time they spent with the elderly persons actually increased rather than reduced the time they spent on the internet. The model program showed the possibility of social inclusion of older people by ICT and volunteers. All the participants subsequently paid the monthly internet fee received free of charge during the model period.
Publication/reports: Zsuzsa Széman (2012). SKYPE az idősgondozásban:egy intervenciós kutatás tapasztalatai (SKYPE in eldercare: experiences of an intervention research) with English abstract. ESÉLY: TÁRSADALOM ÉS SZOCIÁLPOLITIKAI FOLYÓIRAT, 23: (2) pp. 38-53.; Zsuzsa Széman (2014) A new pattern in long term care in Hungary: Skype and youth volunteers. 4: (3) pp. 37-45. ANTHROPOLOGICAL NOTEBOOKS (SLOVENIA), 20: (1) pp. 105-117. ; Zsuzsa Széman (2013). Új utak az idősgondozásban: infokommunikációs tanítás fiatal önkéntesekkel. KULTÚRA ÉS KÖZÖSSÉG 4: (3) pp. 37-45.
Financed by: Hungarian Maltese Charity Service
Contact person: Zsuzsa Széman, szemanzs@hu.inter.net
Copyright
“The Central and Eastern European Active Ageing Network database is protected by copyright law, under international agreements and the EC Database Directive 96/9/EC. The owner of the database is the Institute of Mental Health of Semmelweis University and the University of Debrecen Faculty of Health. Reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is not permitted without the prior written authorization of the [owner].”