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Why is this topic important?
Why is this topic important?
Seniors are challenged by social isolation and loneliness, struggling to find their place in their family systems and in their community. Gaming can offer options to connect, entertain, and engage in some physical activity (depending upon the online game), but seniors have varying levels of confidence and competence using online gaming platforms (Mangra, 2023; Gerling et al., 2011).
How can we decrease loneliness and increase mental and physical activity through educating seniors on the value of online gaming and improving digital literacy? What skills does this demographic need to feel safe and comfortable engaging in online gaming platforms for entertainment? How can we reduce the vulnerabilities of seniors who are interested in online gaming?
Use of Technology and Wellness in Seniors
Use of Technology and Wellness in Seniors
We are interested in how technology can enhance and inhibit the life experiences of Seniors. In later life, seniors can feel lonely and disconnected from the world. They may not have a clear sense of identity or their place in this world. Ageism can contribute to loneliness and languishing. The combination of loneliness, grief, and depression can lead to or accelerate health risks (WHO, 2020). Seniors can use digital technology to stay connected to family, to access entertainment, and continue learning; however, the same technologies can lead to addictive digital behaviours, social isolation, and vulnerability to online security.
Topic: Technology use and mental health/well-being among older adults considering developmental, social, and environmental factors.
National Research Council of Canada (2024) - Aging in Place
Aging In Place
Aging In Place
Statistics Canada has projected that 25% of the Canadian population in 2051 will be compromised of people aged 65 or older, with nearly all preferring to age in place, meaning they would like to remain in their home or community of choice. The research states that many long-term care residents could have been cared for at home with the proper supports in place (1 in 9 New Long-Term Care Residents Potentially Could Have Been Cared for at Home | CIHI, 2020). The Aging In Place Challenge Program from the National Research Council of Canada has put together a comprehensive system of tech-enabled and tech-augmented supports and infrastructure to help give seniors the ability to age in their own residence.
Seniors and Lifecycle Development
Seniors and Lifecycle Development
This stage of the lifecycle encompasses many changes and life stage goals for health and wellness. According to Erik Erikson's psychosocial stages, the stage of older adults, called Ego Integrity v Despair, is associated with developmental tasks. This age group is associated with wisdom and finding contentment with a life well lived. This age group is challenged in the digital age to feel competent and valuable as they struggle to navigate the digital world and must rely upon others. In Bowen's Family Systems theory, the grandparents are an integral part of the family that act as Elders that the younger generation looks up to, attentive to the stories of yesterday as teaching for life moving forward. However, young people feel disconnected from this generation and their way of life. New technologies and innovation mean a progressive society that does not need to learn from the past. Self-esteem and a clear sense of self can promote healthy ego development. Continuity theory suggests that as we age, we continue to see our younger version of self. As we grow and adapt to changes in our lives and society, seniors will resort to strategies and approaches that were successful for them in the past. Our identity is a result of previous life experiences and roles in our lives, sometimes making the identity consolidation during older adulthood incongruent. Asking "who am I?" in this body, in this life, can challenge older adults to feel self-actualization and result in a mourning for who they once were in this world. Jaspel and Breakwell (2014) recognize that we live in an ever-changing social world that demands adjustment to our identity and actions. Technology and innovation challenge seniors to re-examine who they are in this changing world. Activity theory examines how people adjust to the evolving circumstances in old age. Seniors should avoid a sedentary lifestyle and take an active physical and social role in society for health and happiness. Isolation in old age can lead to unhealthy online behaviours as seniors seek to fulfill these needs with online games and apps. In today's society, ageism is widespread and can significantly impact health and wellness. Coates (2025) explains, "Ageism can harm health and well-being, increase isolation, reduce opportunities, and even shorten life expectancy. "
Seniors in Canada (Statistics Canada, 2021)
Seniors in Canada (Statistics Canada, 2021)
Employment and Social Development Canada. (2022, February 23). Seniors infographic – 2021 [Infographic]. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/reports/esdc-transition-binders/seniors-2021-infographic.html
Infographic Highlights for this Research Project
Seniors are living longer and healthier than previous generations. 18% of the Canadian population were aged 65 and older in 2020. This population is expected to grow to 4% by the end of 2030. Average life expectancy is 79.8 years for men and 83.9 years for women.
About 16% of seniors experience social isolation, about 30% at risk of becoming socially isolated. Women are more likely than men to be socially isolated
Social inclusion of seniors through projects in community organizations to address local issues and enable seniors to make contributions.
Age Well at Home Programs. The Government of Canada Budget 2021 committed $90 million from 2021-22 to 2023-24 for the Age Well at Home Initiative to support seniors-serving organizations in providing in-home practical support that helps low-income and vulnerable seniors age in their homes.
The Implications of social isolation and loneliness on health in Seniors and the Aging population
The Implications of social isolation and loneliness on health in Seniors and the Aging population
NICE - National Initiative for Care of the Elderly (2024)
Loneliness and Accelerated Health Risks
Loneliness and Accelerated Health Risks
Loneliness, grief, and depression can lead to accelerated health risks in older adults (Ageing and Health, 2025). From Janssen (2023), "maintaining a strong network throughout the lifespan is essential for our cognitive and physical health (Cornwell & Waite, 2009; Hawkley & Cacioppo, 2010; Kelly et al., 2017; Zunzunegui et al., 2003), and extra important for older adults (Suragarn et al., 2021), as it may play a protective role in cognitive decline (Bennett et al., 2006; Glei et al., 2005; Li & Dong, 2017)" (Janssen, 2023, p1).
How does our topic connect to EDUC 5405G
How does our topic connect to EDUC 5405G
Keyes (2024)
Loneliness and Languishing
Loneliness and Languishing
Ageism can contribute to loneliness and languishing. The combination of loneliness, grief, and depression can lead to or accelerate health risks (WHO, 2020). There is a continuum between Languishing and Flourishing (Keyes, 2024). Flourishing is a sense of self-fulfillment, purpose, and happiness - the peak of well-being.
Seniors may present at various points on this continuum and resort to digital tools to fulfill social-emotional voids.
Pope (2021)
Mental Health Continuum
Mental Health Continuum
Languishing is not depression, but it's the absence and insufficiency of feeling good and functioning well (Pope, 2021). Our Seniors may live in a state of languishing that finds them neither driven nor absent.
Seligman (2012)
PERMA Model
PERMA Model
The PERMA model of wellness (PERMA; Seligman, 2012) focuses on five components of well-being, emphasizing the core concepts of authentic happiness and flourishing: positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishments.
Seniors who do not participate in authentic physical and digital spaces may experience unhappiness and loneliness.
Seniors and Technology
Seniors and Technology
Statistics Canada. (2019, April 15). Seniors online (Infographic; Catalogue No. 11-627-M2019024) [PDF]. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-627-m/11-627-m2019024-eng.pdf
Seniors and Technology Use
Seniors and Technology Use
Stats Canada (2023) has collected data based on 2022 information on how seniors use technology and it is on the rise. 15 % of seniors in Canada play online games on a device (Government of Canada, 2023).
There is an increase in the use of the internet and technology over the past few years. Statistics Canada has published the following based on the data collect for 2022:
82% of seniors (65+) in Canada used the internet in 2022
email was the most common online activity for seniors in 2022, which was up 7.7% from 2020
half of seniors used instant messaging and 4 in 10 used social networking websites or app for communication
Over one-third of seniors make online voice or video calls in 2022
Booking online appointments has increased in popularity with over 40% of seniors booking online in 2022
Over half use government online services
Almost 60% of seniors use online banking, an increase of 6.1% from 2020
4 in 10 watch online video streaming
4 in 10 listen to music online
15% played video games
15% listened to podcasts
In 2022, 2.3% of seniors used dating websites or app to find love
References
References
Seniors as a Stage of Development
Seniors as a Stage of Development
Canadian Institute for Health Information. (2020, August 6). 1 in 9 new long-term care residents potentially could have been cared for at home. https://www.cihi.ca/en/1-in-9-new-long-term-care-residents-potentially-could-have-been-cared-for-at-home
Cherry, K. (2024, May 2). Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/erik-eriksons-stages-of-psychosocial-development-2795740
Cohen, I. S. (2023, November 21). Understanding Bowen family systems theory. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/your-emotional-meter/202311/understanding-bowen-family-systems-theory
Employment and Social Development Canada. (2022, February 23). Seniors infographic – 2021 [Infographic]. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/reports/esdc-transition-binders/seniors-2021-infographic.html
Jaspal, R., & Breakwell, G. M. (2014). Identity process theory : identity, social action and social change. Cambridge University Press.
Lang, D., Cone, N., Lally, M., Valentine-French, S., Overstreet, L., & Miller, S. A. (2022). Psychosocial development in late adulthood. In Individual and family development, health, and well-being (Chapter 7). Iowa State Press. https://iastate.pressbooks.pub/individualfamilydevelopment/chapter/psychosocial-development-in-late-adulthood/
National Research Council Canada. (2024, March 28). Aging in place: Technology and innovation – Program plan [Program plan]. https://nrc.canada.ca/en/research-development/research-collaboration/programs/aging-place-technology-innovation-proposed-program-plan
Sneed, J. R., & Whitbourne, S. K. (2003). Identity Processing and Self-Consciousness in Middle and Later Adulthood. The Journals of Gerontology. Series B, Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 58(6), P313–P319. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/58.6.P313
Aging, Health, and Loneliness
Aging, Health, and Loneliness
Al Mahmud, A., Long, K. M., Harrington, K. D., Casey, K., Bhar, S., Curran, S., Hunter, K., & Lim, M. H. (2022). Developing A Digital Psychoeducational Tool to Reduce Loneliness in Older Adults: A Design Case Study. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 38(6), 499–528. https://doi.org/10.1080/10447318.2021.1949854
Coates, M. (2025, October 9). Older and wiser: Ageism Awareness Day a reminder of challenges seniors face. North Shore News. https://www.nsnews.com/in-the-community/older-and-wiser-ageism-awareness-day-a-reminder-of-challenges-seniors-face-11330006?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=linkedin
Jung, E., & Yu, J. (2025). The Role of Digital Gaming in Addressing Loneliness Among Older Adults: A Scoping Review. Healthcare (Basel), 13(17), Article 2140. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13172140
Kaufman, D., Sauve, L. (2019). Digital Gaming by Older Adults: Can It Enhance Social Connectedness?. In: Zhou, J., Salvendy, G. (eds) Human Aspects of IT for the Aged Population. Social Media, Games and Assistive Environments. HCII 2019. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 11593. Springer, Cham. https://doi-org.uproxy.library.dc-uoit.ca/10.1007/978-3-030-22015-0_13
Keyes, C. (2024). Languishing : how to feel alive again in a world that wears us down (First edition.). Crown.
Mahoney, J. et al. (2024), “Measuring social connectedness in OECD countries: A scoping review”, OECD Papers on Well-being and Inequalities, No. 28, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/f758bd20-en.
National Institute on Aging. (2022, February 23). What do we know about healthy aging? U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/healthy-aging/what-do-we-know-about-healthy-aging
NICE – National Initiative for Care of the Elderly. (2024, December 4). Loneliness and social isolation among older adults. https://www.nicenet.ca/articles/loneliness-and-social-isolation-among-older-adults
Statistics Canada. (2019, April 15). Seniors online (Infographic; Catalogue No. 11-627-M2019024) [PDF]. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-627-m/11-627-m2019024-eng.pdf
Statistics Canada. (2023, August 14). Canadian seniors more connected than ever. https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/4288-canadian-seniors-more-connected-ever
World Health Organization. (2021, July 29). Social isolation and loneliness among older people: Advocacy brief. https://www.who.int/news/item/29-07-2021-new-advocacy-brief-highlights-serious-consequences-of-social-isolation-and-loneliness-on-the-health-of-older-people-calls-for-greater-political-priority-to-the-issue
World Health Organization. (2021, July 29). Social isolation and loneliness among older people: Advocacy brief. https://www.who.int/news/item/29-07-2021-new-advocacy-brief-highlights-serious-consequences-of-social-isolation-and-loneliness-on-the-health-of-older-people-calls-for-greater-political-priority-to-the-issue
World Health Organization. (2025, June 30). From loneliness to social connection: Charting a path to healthier societies: Report of the WHO Commission on Social Connection. https://www.who.int/groups/commission-on-social-connection/report
WHO’s Work on the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030). https://www.who.int/initiatives/decade-of-healthy-ageing. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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