Information and communication technologies to promote healthy ageing: A rural community intervention during COVID-19 pandemic

This pilot study evaluates a community intervention using information and communication technologies (ICT) to enhance cognitive activity and subjective well-being in older adults. Conducted during the final phase of the COVID-19 pandemic with a pre-test and post-test design, the study involved Group 1 (n = 11) and Group 2 (n = 12), who participated in a learning program using ICT to stimulate autobiographical memory and social interaction. In addition, Group 1 received training on stress coping strategies based on mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, while Group 2 reflected on the digital inclusion of older people. Following the intervention, Group 1 demonstrated significant improvements in performance on the Trail-Making-A Time and Stroop Words tasks, while Group 2 showed improvement on the Trail-Making-B Time task; all of these measures are related to executive function. Depression decreased in both groups. Most indicators of positive well-being remained stable after the intervention, with some showing a tendency to improve. These findings suggest that this community intervention is suitable for older adults and contributes to improved cognitive abilities and subjective well-being. Complementing the quantitative evaluation, a subsequent qualitative study was conducted with 20 older adults who had participated in the learning program, utilizing a participatory approach to gain deeper insights into their experiences and needs. The results indicated that the most valued aspects of the intervention were the in-person opportunities to learn how to use technology in daily life and to share reminiscences. Participants also emphasized the importance of practice opportunities and the empathetic support provided by facilitators throughout the activities.