Citizen survey of the «new retirees» in a mid-size Norwegian municipality

Hilde Haaland-KramerGeneral manager

Vaksdal – 4100 inhabitants, aging population, rural, challenging infrastructure

Research question

• Who is the newly retired person in Vaksdal? Are they socially active? Do they use technology? How is their physical and mental health?

• What are the attitudes and expectations towardsfuture services and the use of tele care/assitivetechnology?

The Survey• Mailed to 368 residents between 67 and 75 years• Final response rate 53%, with one reminder.• 57 questions related to 7 theme• Descriptive analysis Background %

Female/Male 52/48Married/Living together 71Higher education 26Not working 76Driving 77Parent(s) still alive 12Receiving help from the municipality

7

Housing Use of technologyHealth Attitudes towards the

use of tele care

Give and receive help

Expectations towards future needs

Social network

Findings - Social contact• 80% of the respondents say they know their neighbors well

or very well• 23% say they have contact (in person or via phone/Skype)

with their family every day, another 62% more than once a week

• 62,5% say have contact with friends once a week or more often

• 49% say they receive very little help from family, only 8% say they receive a lot of help

• 84% think they receive enough help from family members

Tight-knit social network!

Findings - The use of technology• Everyone has a mobile phone (97%), and use it for phone

calls & text messages, as well as some surfing on the net.

• 88% have access to a computer or tablet at home, and 64% use it every day. It is mostly used for online banking and surfing.

• Only 30% wanted to participate in courses/training in use of smart phones/tablet/pc

Techno-savvy group!

Findings - Attitudes towards theuse of tele care

• 73% say they would like to use technology that can help them in daily life and to live at home

• 68% say they would use technology to manage health, treatment and care, if they should become ill in the future

• 81% say they would like to install tele care at home if it should become necessary (sensors, personal/social alarms, etc.)

• 47% say they would like to receive such alarms if their next-of-kin has a personal/social alarm

• 63% say they would like to contribute to the development and testing of new technologies and services

Strong will to try new technology!

Findings – Public vs. private• More than half want to move to a public assisted living

complex, if they cannot live at home because of illness.• Only 21% want to pay for commercial services at home• If they should become seriously ill, 39% want to move to a

nursing home, 33% want to receive help at home, and 28% don’t know.

• Only 17% would like to pay for tele care/assistive technology

Strong expectation that the public should provide services!

Conclusion• Tight-knit social network• Techno-savvy group• Willingness to try new things• Strong expectation that the public should provide services

Consequences for the municipality:• Confronting some of the myths about the elderly• “Mandate” to develop new services and introduce new

technology in home-based care• Need to challenge residents’ attitudes about the future of

public care

Project group and focus group testing out an early version of the survey

Thank you for your attention