ABSTRACT.Understanding perceptions and use of gerotechnology is crucial to optimize design, application, and education strategies that may reduce caregiver burden, extend healthy aging in place, and minimize demands on the health care system. A pilot project was conducted to explore attitudes, opinions, and preferences of older adults concerning the use of technology to support and extend their ability to "aging in place." Four major themes emerged as important for older adults to age in place: safety and independence, social interaction, use of technology in the past, and the desire for support. Based on the literature in gerotechnology and the pilot study findings, we present a conceptual model that integrates gerotechnology into the life span theory of control (Heckhausen & Schulz, 1995;Schulz & Heckhausen, 1996) and the concept of aging in place. Gerotechnology, aging KEYWORDS. TECHNOLOGY AND AGING: THE CONTEXTThe 2000 Census projected an increase in the 65-and-over population in the next quarter century due to the aging of the baby boom generation (people born between 1946-1964) who will begin turning 65 in less than a decade. Older adults almost uniformly prefer to age in place; that is, living in one's own dwelling after retirement (AARP, 2003; ASID, 2003). Strong evidence suggests that older adults have significantly improved quality of life, social connectedness to family and friends, and fewer health-care complaints when they are able to live safely in their own homes, rather than in institutional settings (Fogel, 1992;Sixsmith, 1990;Tilson, 1989). Although most existing homes do not readily accommodate the changing needs of their aging residents, many older adults continue to reside in their own homes, often alone.1 The assistance they need is provided most often by informal family caregivers (Grant et al., 2004) who frequently experience significant stress while juggling multiple roles in addition to their caregiving duties (Zarit, Reever, & Bach-Peterson, 1980).In this aging society, there is evidence that technological advancements could help older adults (especially those living alone) to live independently and alleviate the pressures on their caregivers (Dishman, 2004;Dishman, Matthews, & Dunbar-Jacob, 2003). This type of technology is often referred to as "gerotechnology" in academic literature. Many gerotechnologies are already available and many more innovative devices are introduced to the market each year.The drive for the development of gerotechnologies is fueled by the desire of older adults to age in place, coupled with their increasing need for assistance in daily activities. Proponents of gerotechnologies (e.g., Dishman 2003;Dishman et al., 2003;Fozard, Rietsema, Bouma, & Graafmans, 2000;Horgas & Abowd, 2003) argue that gerotechnologies such as activity monitoring devices and advanced communication interfaces can both reduce caregiver work load and reduce demands on the health care system. For example, remote monitoring technology allows caregivers to track an older person's activity...

Older adults prefer to age in place, necessitating a match between person and environment, or person-environment (P-E) fit. In occupational therapy practice, home modifications can support independence, but more knowledge is needed to optimize interventions targeting the housing situation of older adults. In response, this study aimed to explore the accessibility and usability of the home environment to further understand adaptive environmental behaviors. Mixed methods data were collected using objective and perceived indicators of P-E fit among 12 older adults living in community-dwelling housing. Quantitative data described objective P-E fit in terms of accessibility, while qualitative data explored perceived P-E fit in terms of usability. While accessibility problems were prevalent, participants’ perceptions of usability revealed a range of adaptive environmental behaviors employed to meet functional needs. A closer examination of the P-E interaction suggests that objective accessibility does not always stipulate perceived usability, which appears to be malleable with age, self-perception, and functional competency. Findings stress the importance of evaluating both objective and perceived indicators of P-E fit to provide housing interventions that support independence. Further exploration of adaptive processes in older age may serve to deepen our understanding of both P-E fit frameworks and theoretical models of aging well.

The home environment is a primary context for daily activities, especially among older adults and persons with disabilities. Functional and age-related decline can generate problems in relation to certain environmental features, necessitating modifications or other provisions of support. The determination of appropriate home interventions is best served using a person-environment (P-E) fit approach, which considers both environmental barriers and functional limitations in measuring the magnitude of accessibility problems. In the United States (U.S.), there are few valid and reliable instruments utilizing this approach. This study aimed to adapt the environmental component of the Swedish Housing Enabler (HE) for valid use in the U.S., and furthermore investigate the inter-rater agreement of the instrument. Statistical analyses of fifty pairwise home assessments show the environmental component of the U.S. HE to be sufficiently reliable (j = 0.410, percentage of agreement = 81 %) for the region of study. A valid and reliable U.S. HE has the potential to inform appropriate housing environment interventions and therefore improve U.S. housing stock, the majority of which is currently considered inaccessible for residents with functional limitations.

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