ICT-Enabled Community-Based Social Support System Matrix for Elderly: A Social Support Perspective in Japan

Abstract

Japan, as the leading country with the most significant percentage of elderly, has done a great job of improving the quality of the elderly' social life. This research adopts a qualitative approach with a multiple case design and the Social support theory to analyze four cases in Japan that use the deployed ICT to enhance community and support the elderly' social life. An ICT-enabled community-based social support system matrix is proposed with four types of elder communities. The findings delight the possibilities and the cautions for enhancing the elder community with ICT.