• The Role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Facilitating Elderly Lives in the Covid-19 Pandemic Crisis: A Narrative Review
  • Seyed Mohsen Laal Mousavi,1,* Homa HajiZadegan,2 Fateme Kamjoo,3 Fariba Moalem Borazjani,4 Maryam Karami Mozafari,5 Maryam Alidadi,6
    1. Department of Health Information Technology, Faculty of Paramedical, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
    2. Department of Health Information Technology, Faculty of Paramedical, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
    3. Department of Health Information Technology, Faculty of Paramedical, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
    4. Department of Health Information Management, School of Paramedicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
    5. Department of Health Information Technology, School of Managment and Information Science, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Shiraz,Fars ,Iran.
    6. Department of Health Information Technology, Faculty of Paramedical, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran


  • Introduction: Covid-19 spread all over the world, resulting in a social health crisis. The proportion of older people across the globe is growing rapidly and they have potential physical and psychological needs that should be met. As a result of Covid-19 and social distances, older people are at greater risk of loneliness and isolation
  • Methods: This study is a narrative review performed in 2021. We reviewed and collected papers without a time limit and organized them by topic. The search was performed on electronic databases like google scholar, SID, science direct, PubMed and using the MeSH, keywords including social isolation, elderly, Covid-19, and ICT to find documents about the main purpose of the study
  • Results: Looking at the research results, the basic needs of the elderly were such as cognitive function or chronic disease management, safety needs such as fall prevention, and social needs such as social participation to reduce loneliness. ICTs can help family members to monitor their old parents, promote social participation, physical activity, and diet. Also, connect elderly people to the outside world, get social support, and help them to access entertainment and hobbies. The roles of technology should respond to the diverse needs of the elderly such as social, safety, and health needs
  • Conclusion: The development of ICTs to provide services to the elderly is in constant evolution. During the Covid-19 pandemic, lockdown and social distancing have made the need for emotional and social support among seniors increasingly important. ICT tools can increase social participation, cognition, physical activity, diet, and sleep. Furthermore, compared with real animals or routine care, robots and ICTs improve loneliness, life satisfaction, social support, quality of life, and other responses. It is emotionally effective and can play an important role in preventing social isolation for the elderly during the Covid-19 pandemic. Cost-effectiveness and availability are two important features that should be considered in the design and application of ICTs.Practical ICT solutions for the elderly in general are used in diseases so disease management and improving the quality of the elderly's life should be considered
  • Keywords: COVID-19 - Elderly - ICT (Information and Communication Technology) - Social Isolation