AAG Vic presents: Technology to Support Social and Emotional Wellbeing in Later Life
Understanding how technologies might provide social and emotional enrichment in later life is especially important today, with in-person interactions limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many older adults and aged care providers are embracing the opportunities that technologies such as virtual reality, online gaming, social networking, and artificial intelligence (among others) can provide. But there are concerns that technology-based social activities are a poor substitute for in-person interactions, and that there are challenges to overcome before new technologies can be used effectively to support social and emotional wellbeing in later life.
- Learn about current research examining older Australian’s experiences of loneliness during COVID-19 lockdowns and understand the role digital technology can play in addressing this loneliness
- Learn about best practices when implementing technology for social and emotional wellbeing in aged care settings
- Understand how co-design can be applied to designing technology for enriching the lives of people with dementia.
- Hear from a consumer, industry representative, and academic discussing the benefits and challenges of using different technologies, including gaming, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence, for social and emotional wellbeing in later life.
Keynote speakers:
Dr Barbara Barbosa Neves
School of Social Sciences, Monash University
Dr Barbara Barbosa Neves is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Monash University in the School of Social Sciences. Barbara is a sociologist of technology, focusing on ageing and social inclusion. Her research explores the role of emerging technologies (AI, VR, robots) in later life, including technology-based interventions to help address loneliness and social isolation among older people. Barbara’s mission is to ensure digital technology works for diverse groups of older people, rather than excluding them.
Associate Professor Jenny Waycott
School of Computing and Information Systems
The University of Melbourne
Jenny Waycott is an Associate Professor in the School of Computing and Information Systems, at the University of Melbourne, working in the interdisciplinary field of human-computer interaction. Her research examines how emerging technologies, such as virtual reality and social robots, are being used to provide social and emotional enrichment in later life, especially in aged care and aims to inform the future ethical design and use of emerging technologies in aged care.
Dr Mandy Salomon
Co-founder and CEO of Mentia
Mandy Salomon is co-founder and CEO at MENTIA, which has developed DevaWorld, a virtual world for people with dementia and their caregivers. Mandy builds creative digital therapies that support the well-being of people impacted by dementia and those that support them across the care continuum. She has a PhD in media and gerontology, a rich history in creative production, and is passionate that ageing populations have the tools to create and share stories.
Panel discussion with:
(the panel guest details are still being finalised and will appear here when available/confirmed)
Libby Callaway, Associate Professor in the Rehabilitation, Ageing, and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre, at Monash University, and current President of the Australian Rehabilitation & Assistive Technology Association. Libby is a senior occupational therapist with over 25 years’ experience working with people with neurological disability, across both inpatient and community settings in Victoria and the United States.
Tiffany Ford has been playing computer and console games since they were first around. Gaming is so flexible it can be a meditation, a brain training exercise, an adrenalin invoker and even a way to meet people (it’s how I met my husband). Gaming is an integral part of her life.
Andrew Jamieson, Head of Talent & Capability, Benetas. Andrew has over 20 years’ experience across various industries, including the past 7 years at Benetas. His current role encompasses employee experience, learning, diversity and inclusion, and the Pastoral Care function.
For more information, please head to the AAG website.