INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND SENIORS

Abstract

Goal: This article focuses onthe relationship between information technologies and theiruse by senior citizens. The main objective of the research is to identify the problems that encompasssenior citizenuse of information technologies.

Methods: The research sample consisted of 5 participants aged 62 years to 66 years, from which 2 participants were women and 3 were men. The research method used was a semi-structured interviews of own design.

Results: The largestbarrier between information technology and senior citizens is its modernization which puts a pressure on the education of seniors in this area of technology. Communication via internet or telephone with remote family members has been shown to have a positive effecton the lives of seniors, which in turn reduces barriers between seniors and society. An important finding was that all participants in the research samplewereinterested in further development of their understanding in these areas, but lackededucational opportunities.

Conclusions: We concludethat themajorproblem faced by senior citizens is the rapid advancement of modernization of information technologies, which leaves the means to educate seniorspredominantly the responsibility of family members. In the future it would be appropriate to corroborate our findings with a higher number of participants, for example in a social services home, which could bring further new insights into our results regarding the opportunities of education for senior citizens.