Reducing Isolation through Telehealth: Digital Literacy in Seniors

Reducing Isolation

In recent years we have seen the rise in telehealth options in healthcare, including in
mental health services. During the COVID-19 pandemic many mental health services
adapted to offer virtual and remote telehealth services such as telephone or video therapy sessions. Additionally, telehealth services can offer a more accessible option for some populations, particularly for folks who have limited transportation options, live in more rural areas, or who may have mobility or health related limitations. Many services providers continue to offer remote services, and while telehealth may have been well received by some, as a more accessible or convenient option, it may not work for everyone.

Populations such as seniors and folks who live in rural communities may be
particularly vulnerable to social isolation. Researchers have been interested in finding
interventions that can help to promote social engagement and reduce isolation. In a recent study examining the impacts of telehealth yoga as an intervention for social isolation in rural seniors, researchers found that loneliness decreased significantly during the time between the intervention and the follow-up period (Teo et al., 2025).

Reducing Barriers

Where remote or telehealth options may help to fill in the gaps of traditional in-office mental health services, there are still barriers to access for some populations. Some researchers found that certain demographics, particularly older adults, seniors and lower-income individuals, may experience barriers to accessing telehealth services, such as a lack of internet access or technology devices, including cell phones, computers or tablets, and lack of technology literacy (Choi et al., 2022).

However, the gap in internet use among seniors and non-seniors, otherwise known
as the ‘grey divide’ is closing. According to the stats Canada, 82.6% of Canadians aged 65 years and older reported to use the internet in 2022, a 6.3 % increase in internet use in
reports from 2020 (Statistics Canada, 2023).

Closing the Gap

Ageism, or age-related stereotypes, is cited as another factor influencing the grey
divide. Despite access to the internet and technology devices, some seniors may avoid
adopting the use of new technology due to internalized beliefs that impact confidence to learn new technologies (Davidson & Schimmele, 2019). However, with efforts towards
increasing digital literacy among seniors and other populations, the opportunity to access telehealth services is available to more people now than ever before.

Connected Canadians, a registered charity focused on digital literacy and digital
inclusion is making strides towards their goal for all Canadian seniors to have access to
free technology training and support. Seniors across Canada can access free resources
including instructor-led digital literacy workshops and one-to-one training and support
services.

Final Thoughts

At OK clinical we are committed to meeting our clients where they are at and
reducing barriers by offering accessible telehealth services. If you’re curious about how
telehealth counselling might fit into your life, we invite you to connect. Our team is here to answer questions and walk you through the process to help you take the next step towards accessible, compassionate care.

You can read more about some of them here, or feel free to text or call 250-718-9291, and we’ll get you connected with the best counsellor to fit your needs. You can also email us at [email protected].  

References:

• Choi, N. G., DiNitto, D. M., Marti, C. N., & Choi, B. Y. (2022). Telehealth use among older
• adults during COVID-19: Associations with sociodemographic and health
• characteristics, technology device ownership, and technology learning. Journal of
• Applied Gerontology, 41(3), 600–609. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648211047347
• Davidson, J., & Schimmele, C. (2019, July 10). Evolving Internet use among Canadian
• seniors (11F0019M No. 427). Statistics Canada.
• https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11f0019m/11f0019m2019015-eng.htm
• Statistics Canada. (2023, August 14). Canadian seniors more connected than ever.
• https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/4288-canadian-seniors-more-connected
• ever
• Teo, A. R., Benton, M. C., Hooker, E. R., Zaccari, B., Hidalgo, N. J., Newell, S., Tuepker, A., Greaves, D. W., & Nicosia, F. M. (2025). Effect of telehealth yoga on loneliness and social isolation among rural older adults: a randomized controlled trial. Aging & Mental Health, 29(5), 824–832. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2024.2449126

Written by: Cara-Lea Glass

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