Online group social activities: connecting older people during lockdown and beyond

As housing and social care looks for ways to reduce social isolation, and make better use of technology, this research offers a glimpse into the difference that Zoom and similar technologies can make. What has worked in the VCS could offer significant benefits to housing organisations who experience many of the same drivers and challenges to connecting older people to their communities.

What changed during lockdown

During lockdown, most of us saw a rapid acceleration in how we use the internet, in a new world of Netflix binges, online shopping deliveries, and not much else. Many of us also came to rely more on the internet to communicate with friends, family, and colleagues. In particular, a little-known video-conferencing technology called Zoom changed our communication options quite fundamentally.

Many older people were no exception. While a lack of access to technology became all the more problematic for those who are digitally excluded, some of those who had internet access, a device, and just enough technical skill (often with help from friends, neighbours, relatives, and community organisations), also found internet communication tools took on a new importance.

When community activities went online

Over the course of lockdown, many of the community organisations across the UK who work with older people started to use Zoom to deliver online group activities. For some, these were so successful that they have continued that delivery alongside their return to face to face services.

Open Age (opens new window), an older people’s charity in Northwest London, moved their whole social activity programme online during lockdown. Since then, they have continued a range of activities online, alongside face to face services. Many of its 4000+ members are adamant that online delivery should be here to stay. They have now commissioned this forthcoming piece of research, into the impact that online group activities for older people had over lockdown and beyond. The research is funded by the Dunhill Medical Trust (opens new window) and National Lottery Community Fund (opens new window), and now in its final stages. As they consider expanding their programme beyond their current reach, they also want to know what the current state of ‘hybrid’ delivery is across the UK – what are the opportunities and challenges? What have others found?

Online group activities – what older people think

Speaking to older people at Open Age and a range of other organisations, we found that for some older people, the benefits of live online group activities had persisted beyond the crisis. In our conversations with older people and organisations, we have found that:

• Many older people spoke of a sense of genuine social connection, friendship, and belonging from their online group activities. While almost everybody said it was ‘better to be there in person,’ the sense of reduced isolation and loneliness was real. People felt connected to existing friends, and some made new friends online.  
• Older people want the same level of choice that others take for granted, but which their age often takes away from the. They feel this mode of delivery gives them more of that.
• The reduced need for transport was of great value – previously one of the biggest barriers to in-person activities, the ability to cut out what could be a three hour round trip for a 90 minute session for some was welcome
• They were able to do, and enjoy, more – previously, some older people could manage one or two activities a week in person (especially those with poor mobility or caring responsibilities). Online meant they could greatly increase the amount they did, usually blending this with in-person activities where they could.
• The structure that activities provided was of significant benefit to some who were experiencing their life as monotonous and lacking purpose
• The flexibility gave older people a way to maintain connections, even when circumstances changed. If they had an injury or illness, or had to move to a new location, they could take their community with them. Others were clear that they saw these activities as an insurance policy in case they became housebound.
• Older people wanted a wide variety of activities which are actively tailored to their interests – there is no ‘one size fits all’.

The non-user view

Of course, some older people chose not to use online activities, or stopped. Some were standard but no  less important – for example, lack of technical skill, access to equipment/ service, or simply having no interest.

Perhaps the strongest theme of all for non-users was a fear that everything is moving online, and this kind of activity is a stealth-manoeuvre to take away face to face contact. No wonder – older people have seen this happen in every area of their lives, from banking to healthcare. They’re right to be suspicious.

The organisations’ perspectives

Meanwhile, organisations had much to say. One major project covering a wide rural area said that ‘suddenly geography didn’t matter’. Others thought they were reaching people who they had not before. Several told us about the familiar need for staff buy-in, skill, and infrastructure, and the substantial investment of staff time needed to make it work, at least at the outset. They also noted that a lack of funding for hybrid meant that the danger of losing ground that had been gained in this area was a major risk.

We also found that for those organisations who had not run online group activities at all, there was sometimes still an argument to be made that older people can and do use the internet. ‘Ours don’t’ was one objection. But on further probing, interviewees would start to question whether this was true – and for how long?

Glass half full/ glass half empty

Overall, we think that arguments about digital inclusion and exclusion can be unhelpfully dichotomised – a glass half-full/ glass half-empty approach. Hybrid services, which offer the benefits of face to face, alongside a digitally-enabled way to do more, are one area where it we can start to think past that. And while online group activities can’t, and never should, entirely replace the option of face to face, our research suggests that an online approach can offer substantial opportunities to improve older people’s quality of life. Those opportunities could have special resonance in the specialist housing and social care sector.

Open Age are now seeking partners to pilot their online work in the housing sector. If you would like to discuss this, please email Iain Cassidy at Open Age.

The full research will be published in early 2023. In the meantime, to find out more, please contact Dr Alex Evans.

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And if you found this of interest, check out our dedicated page on how Assistive Technology can help reduce loneliness by helping older people connect with friends and family through online messaging and video call services .