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Information and communication technology (ICT) can potentially support older adults in making decisions and increase their involvement in decision-making processes. Although the range of technical products has expanded in various areas of society, knowledge is lacking on the influence that ICT has on older adults’ decision-making in everyday situations. Based on the literature, we aimed to provide an overview of the role of ICT in home-dwelling older adults’ decision-making in relation to health, and health and social care services. A scoping review of articles published between 2010 and 2020 was undertaken by searching five electronic databases. Finally, 12 articles using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method designs were included. The articles were published in journals representing biology and medicine, nursing, informatics, and computer science. A majority of the articles were published in the last five years, and most articles came from European countries. The results are presented in three categories: (i) form and function of ICT for decision-making, (ii) perceived value and effect of ICT for decision-making, and (iii) factors influencing ICT use for decision-making. According to our findings, ICT for decision-making in relation to health, and health and social care services was more implicitly described than explicitly described, and we conclude that more research on this topic is needed. Future research should engage older adults and health professionals in developing technology based on their needs. Further, factors that influence older adults’ use of ICT should be evaluated to ensure that it is successfully integrated into their daily lives. 

Background: Today the global number of young adults not in employment, education or training seem to increase. A large proportion of the group are unemployed and disengaged and have not been in contact with any authority. Thus, they are invisible to many community services and official agencies. The situation standing outside the society may have negative long-term health effects and statistics shows that more than a third of the target group after ten years still not work or study. Socially withdrawn youth is a complex phenomenon and very few young adults seek help, often due to their lack of motivation. For this reason, unemployed and inactive young people are often described as being a difficult group to support and engage. Further, there is currently limited evidence on the effects of interventions directed to socially withdrawn youth not in employment or education and the use of evidence-based practice has to be improved.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate social workers and health care professionals’ experiences of working with young adults living in social isolation, and to identify which interventions the professionals find most successful in supporting the young adults’ engagement in society.

Methods: In this study a qualitative method was used. Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted that included thirteen employees from social services and outpatient psychiatric clinics in a Swedish county. Data were analyzed using thematic network analysis.

Results: Analysis resulted in two general thematic networks: ”barriers of the transition into adulthood” and ”to manage complex needs”. Participants tended to associate the issues of young adults with difficulties related to transition into adulthood. Mental health problems, low self-esteem, school related problems and limited social networks also came out in the interviews as factors that characterized unemployed and disengaged socially withdrawn youths. Participants described that successful work to re-engage these young adults included an empowerment-oriented perspective with a focus on the individual strengths, integrated and coordinated interventions and a flexible working approach.

Conclusion: Today the societal changes and the process of individualization place greater demands on individual resources and capabilities which might increase the risk of social exclusion. Participants indicated that the complex problems of socially isolated young adults and experiences of long-term disengagement may contribute to stable and persistent withdrawal from society. Early identification and support for youths at risk of social withdrawal, a holistic approach, multifaceted interventions and tailored and flexible activities is deemed crucial to help reintegrate these young people. Further investigation is required to examine the effects of interventions targeting socially withdrawn and inactive young adults.