A new case study published by the LeadingAge Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST)—a coalition of 400 technology companies, businesses, and aging service organizations, that are focused on technology to transform the aging experience—reveals that residents in senior living communities who use captioned telephones are less likely to experience the adverse effects of loneliness, Hamilton CapTel announced.
The case study is part of a newly-released white paper that includes several studies that reportedly illustrate the uses and benefits of social engagement and connectedness technologies within aging services organizations. LeadingAge unveiled the white paper on October 19, highlighting a set of tools and insights on the latest technology to aid older adults.
According to LeadingAge, “Social isolation is consistently associated with reduced well-being, health, and quality of life, as well as negative psychological outcomes such as depression. The negative impact is a health concern for people of all ages, but becomes more pronounced as people age. Its prolonged health risk is significant, matching the effect of smoking 15 cigarettes a day!”
In the case study, “Increasing Engagement, Social Networks, and Quality of Life and Reducing Social Isolation, Depression, and Feelings of Loneliness through a Captioned Telephone,” qualifying residents of Life Care Services (LCS) living communities—a national senior living community operator—were provided with Hamilton® CapTel® captioned telephones for use in their personal living spaces. Hamilton CapTel captioned telephones are designed to make it possible to listen and read word-for-word captions of everything said to a user on the phone, similar to captions on television.
The study helped show that restoring the ability to use the phone without frustration could potentially increase residents’ likelihood of social connection. According to the Harvard Study of Adult Development, this can lead to better physical health, increased brain, and memory function and, ultimately, longer lives.
Hamilton CapTel will present the case study findings to attendees of this year’s LeadingAge Annual Meeting & Expo on October 29, and will also have a presence in the “Day in the Life-My Place” exhibit throughout the event. The LeadingAge Annual Meeting & Expo runs from October 29 to November 1, 2017 at the Ernest N. Memorial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Source: Hamilton CapTel, LeadingAge Center for Aging Services Technology
