Identified Perceived Benefits of Information Communication Technology Use Among Older Adults During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

Older adults perceived various benefits of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, including benefits related to social connectedness and everyday life. The research aimed to identify a multidimensional set of benefits that older adults perceive when using ICT in the post-COVID-19 era. We used a qualitative research paradigm. We compiled the views of 15 older adults on the benefits of ICT use through semi-structured, in-depth, and individual interviews. The interviewees ranged in age from 65 to 87 years. We analyzed the data using a qualitative content analysis. The analysis identified eight main categories, which were subsequently organized into four higher-order analytical domains according to their conceptual focus. These include social and psychological benefits; functional benefits; economic and practical benefits; cognitive and experiential benefits; changes in benefit perception; altered learning and support processes; factors that shape these changes; and risks and limitations. When understanding the perceived benefits of ICT use in an aging society after the COVID-19 pandemic, a holistic approach that considers individual, social, educational, and technological factors is necessary. Such an understanding provides better insight into the benefits of ICT use for active, safe, and dignified aging.