A new study from the Phoenix Center shows that spending time online reduces depression in about 20% of seniors. The study also suggests that in addition to the heightened quality of life that this can produce, reduced depression can also be instrumental in lowering the nation’s healthcare bills.
It’s inevitable that as age increases, maintaining relationships with friends and family can become more difficult due to decreased mobility. The internet allows seniors to connect with people and regain some means of social support when face to face interaction becomes less frequent. The results of this survey are greatly important because depression is known to affect some 55 million Americans who are age 55 and older, and can cost up to $100 million every year in medical expenses. The study also takes into consideration that seniors have adopted internet use on a much smaller scale than younger people. Needless to say, these statistics are not lost on internet providers who are scrambling to market their services to assisted living companies.
The Phoenix Center’s results were based on the responses of 7,000 retired Americans within the 55 years and older age demographic. The data was then subsequently screened to exclude respondents who are still active in the workforce and who were not affiliated with any type of assisted living companies in order to limit the possibility of muddling the findings. These survey restrictions reduced the number of respondents from 25,000 to 7,000, but it’s still much larger than former attempts to study internet use amongst the elderly population. It’s not uncommon to cut off studies for the elderly at age 55 and this study took special recommendations to expand beyond that age group.
Social forums, gaming and gambling sites, dating services, and accesses to many other forms of media gives seniors a great escape from the daily stresses that elder life can bring. Ultimately, we all turn to the internet to be transported to another place. The fact the older generation are no exception should be of no surprise to the rest of us.
Assisted living marketing services are provided by 800seniors.com a leading referral
system in the assisted living industry. For more information, call 1-800-768-8221. Sky Palma is a freelance staff writer.