Cell phone and technology use by octogenarians.

INTRODUCTION Many countries, including New Zealand, have an aging population and new technologies such as cell phones may be useful for older people. AIM To examine cell phone and technology use by octogenarians. METHODS Te Puawaitanga O Nga Tapuwae Kia Ora Tonu- Life and Living in Advanced Age: A Cohort Study In New Zealand (LILACs NZ) cohort study data of Maori (aged 80-90 years, 11-year age band) and non-Maori (aged 85 years, 1-year age band) followed for 3 years was used to describe the prevalence among study participants of the use of the internet, cell phones and watching pay-per-view television. Association of these activities with living arrangement, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive respiratory disease and participants' cognition were examined. RESULTS Technology use was relatively low among study octogenarians. Fewer Maori used cell phones and the internet (16% and 6%) than non-Maori (30% and 19%). Maori participants supported only by a pension were less likely to use cell phones than Maori with more income. More men watched pay-per-view television (e.g. SKY) than women. Living alone and having chronic lung disease were associated with not watching pay-per-view television. Participants who used the internet had higher cognition scores than others. Non-Maori women were less likely to watch pay-per-view television and non-Maori on a pension only were less likely to watch pay-per-view television than people on a higher income. Participants who lived alone were less likely to watch pay-per-view. CONCLUSION Relatively low use of technology may limit potential for health technology innovation for people of advanced age. Socioeconomic and ethnic disparities will amplify this.

Falls and depression in octogenarians - life and living in advanced age: a cohort study in New Zealand.

INTRODUCTION Falls and injury have the most devastating consequences for very old people. Depression may be a significant cause and consequence of falls. AIM To examine the association between falls and depression in octogenarians. METHODS LiLACS NZ (Life and Living in Advanced Age: A Cohort Study in New Zealand), cohort study data of Maori (aged 80-90 years, 11-year age band) and non-Maori (aged 85 years, 1-year age band) followed for 3 years was used to describe the incidence and prevalence of falls and depression. Falls by self-report were accumulated over 3 years. Geriatric depression score (GDS) was ascertained at baseline. RESULTS Over 3 years, fewer Maori (47%) than non-Maori (57%) fell; 19% of non-Maori and 20% of Maori scored 5+ (depressed) on the GDS. For non-Maori and Maori, people with depression were more likely to fall than Maori not diagnosed with depression (OR 2.72, CI 1.65-4.48 for non-Maori and OR 2.01, CI 1.25-3.25 for Maori). This remained significant, adjusted for age and sex. Depression was a significant predictor of hospitalisations from falls for Maori (OR 5.59, CI 2.4-12.72, adjusted for age and sex) and non-Maori (OR 4.21, 2.3-7.44, adjusted for sex). CONCLUSION Depression and falls are common and co-exist in octogenarians. GPs thinking about falls should also think about depression and vice versa.