Aging creates new information and communication needs for families who are helping to coordinate care for frail parents. To identify how information and communication needs evolve with the aging process, we created a living laboratory of families, supported by an online private social network with tools for care coordination. Site registrants are invite to participate in a more in-depth survey-based longitudinal study. In year one, we assessed the feasibility of an online living laboratory. During this first year, 155 individuals registered on InfoSAGE, and 26% opted into the more in-depth longitudinal study. The survey response rate for those in the study was 61%. We present here a descriptive analysis of our early participants and networks, as well as barriers to participation that the study team encountered.
Keywords: Health information technology (HIT); Internet; elderly; social network.