We explored the perception and receptivity of elderly people regarding the introduction of an intelligent videomonitoring system (IVS) at home. Using a mixed methods design, 25 elderly people with a history of falls completed a structured interview (two questionnaires). In the year preceding the interview, 72% of the participants fell as many as seven times. Open-ended questions (qualitative data) were used to supplement the quantitative data. A content analysis (qualitative data) and a descriptive analysis (quantitative data) were carried out. The participants were 84% favourable or partially favourable to technologies which ensured home security and 96% favourable or partially favourable to the IVS. About half (48%) said that they would use it. The other participants did not wish to use it unless they had been left to live alone or if their health condition worsened. Thus the living conditions of the elderly appear to influence their perception and receptivity regarding the acceptance and use of an IVS.

To address the issue of falls, which are increasing as the population ages, an intelligent video-monitoring system is being developed. The aim of the study is to explore caregivers' perceptions of and receptiveness to a prototype of this fall detection system. A cross-sectional mixed-method study was carried out with individual interviews of 18 caregivers. Statistical frequencies and content analysis were conducted (SPSS and N'Vivo). The results show that most participants (n = 15/18) liked the intelligent video-monitoring system and were willing to use it. They would worry less if they could be alerted if a care recipient fell, but they were concerned about privacy and cost. Participants had a positive perception of the system and expressed their wishes regarding the kind of alert and the person to contact in case of a fall.