Abstract:
Are older adults and techs an unlikely pair? Is the intergeneration digital divide 'close-able'? While the pandemic has sped up digitization of our daily lives, the intergenerational digital divide appears to have transformed into more nuanced dimensions, rather than 'closed'. Health and social care have also undergone large-scale digitization, and older adults' readiness to embrace digitalized support has become pivotal. In this seminar, the speaker will start with describing the post-pandemic digital divide with a mixed-method research project comparing older and younger adults' use of a range of information and communication technologies. The speaker will also elaborate two studies on evaluating older adults' factors for using wearable health devices and readiness for artificial intelligence. Against this backdrop, the speaker will proceed to discussing how technologies could be paired with humanistic support to advance rehabilitation and well-being of older adults in nursing homes and the community. Studies on stroke support, cognitive stimulation for people with mild cognitive impairment, and a holistic well-being program for older adults with metabolic syndrome will be presented as examples. It is hoped that the seminar will illuminate how tech and care could be combined to effectively enhance the quality of life of older adults under the digital era.
 

About the speaker:
Dr. Bobo Hi Po Lau is Associate Professor and Associate Head (Undergraduate Studies) of the Department of Counselling & Psychology, Hong Kong Shue Yan University. Dr. Lau holds a PhD degree in psychology from the University of Hong Kong and a MPhil degree in social and developmental psychology from Cambridge University, U.K.. Her research interests are in biopsychosocial approach to healthy longevity, caregiver coping and support, and digital adoption in older adults. She has been awarded grants from the Research Grants Council for her works in centenarian studies, enrichment among working caregivers, and intergenerational digital divide. She is also serving as honorary advisor for local rehabilitation and elderly care services, providing academic support to foster service innovations in digitalization of psychosocial care.