This article was originally published as: Potential for digital gerontological social work with older persons in South African residential facilities
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Abstract
African social workers have not yet explored the potential of using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to render digital gerontological social work (DGSW) services. ICT holds potential for technology-assisted services when direct service delivery is impracticable. The study aimed to determine older persons’ (60 years and older) access to, use and acceptance of ICT. A quantitative study, operationalised through a cross-sectional survey design involved 73 (N=73) older persons in residential facilities in the City of Tshwane, South Africa, through a two-phase indirect and non-probability sampling strategy. Face-to-face surveys explored the participants’ sociodemographics, access to ICT, and platforms/applications used. With the Senior Technology Acceptance Model by Chen and Chan, the study determined older persons’ health contexts and abilities, and acceptance of technology across ten constructs. Participants mostly connect with mobile data using a mobile phone. Messaging, reading news, and social media are among the platforms used independently. Participants rated their health and abilities high and showed high acceptance of technology. Considered from a developmental social work framework, DGSW services are recommended, while respecting potential service users’ means of accessing the internet, their preferred platforms, acceptance and attitude towards technology.
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HOW TO REFERENCE USING ASWDNET STYLEGeyer S. & Crafford G. (2024). Potential for Digital Gerontological Social Work with Older Persons in South African Residential Facilities.African Journal of Social Work, 14(4), 276-284. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajsw.v14i5.6
Authors
- Stephan GEYER (PhD (Social Work), Department of Social Work & Criminology, University of Pretoria, South Africa)
- Gretel CRAFFORD (PhD (Mathematical Statistics), Department of Statistics, University of Pretoria, South Africa)
Keywords
developmental social work, digital gerontological social work, information and communication technology, older persons, residential facility, South Africa
References
References not available for this article.
