Achter de geraniums of achter het computerscherm? ICT als middel ter bestrijding van eenzaamheid bij ouderen

For several years now, loneliness of elderly people is high on the social agenda. Senior citizens are not specifically more lonely than younger citizens, but have a more vulnerable position in society. While their needs for care increase, their social network decreases as a result of e.g. the death of partners and relatives. While new media were long considered to strengthen processes towards loneliness, currently internet and other communication tools become instruments in the fight against loneliness. The evaluation results of a recent internet-at-home pilot among chronically ill elderly citizens in the Netherlands indicate that approach can be effective.