Factors influencing community‐dwelling older adults’ readiness to adopt smart home technology: A qualitative exploratory study

Abstract

Aims Ageing‐in‐place for older people could be more feasible with the support of smart home technology. Ageing in‐place may maximize the independence of older adults and enhance their well‐being and quality of life, while decreasing the financial burden of residential care costs, and addressing workforce shortages. However, the uptake of smart home technology is very low among older adults. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to explore factors influencing community‐dwelling older adults’ readiness to adopt smart home technology. Design A qualitative exploratory study design was utilized. Methods Descriptive data were collected between 2019 and 2020 to provide context of sample characteristics for community‐dwelling older adults aged ≥65 years. Qualitative data were collected via semi‐structured interviews and focus groups, to generate an understanding of older adult's perspectives. Thematic analysis of interviews and focus group transcripts was completed. The Elderadopt model was the conceptual framework used in the analysis of the findings. Results Several factors influenced community‐dwelling older adults’ (N = 19) readiness to adopt smart home technology. Five qualitative themes were identified: knowledge, health and safety, independence, security and cost. Conclusion Community‐dwelling older adults were open to adopting smart home technology to support independence despite some concerns about security and loss of privacy. Opportunities to share information about smart home technology need to be increased to promote awareness and discussion. Impact Wider adoption of smart home technology globally into the model of aged care can have positive impacts on caregiver burden, clinical workforce, health care utilization and health care economics. Nurses, as the main providers of healthcare in this sector need to be knowledgeable about the options available and be able to provide information and respond to questions know about ageing‐in‐place technologies to best support older adults and their families.

Nurse-in-the-loop smart home detection of health events associated with diagnosed chronic conditions: A case-event series

“…Despite their potential, smart homes have not been widely adopted by healthcare systems or countries where much of the research has been conducted ( Dermody et al, 2021 ). Older adults prefer that smart homes address specific health needs rather than offering generalized monitoring ( Choi et al, 2021 ).…”

Perspectives on Wider Integration of the Health-Assistive Smart Home

“…For example, the integration of the HSH as a standard intervention for older adults living at home with chronic disease and age-related changes is currently not evident. This could be because older adults may not be sufficiently informed of the possibilities of the HSH, but the gross lack of adoption reveals that there are larger issues [23]. Given the HSH's potential to support positive health outcomes and extended independence for older adults and its potential to support the healthcare system by providing data about patients' health during complex and unprecedented challenges like COVID-19, more widespread adoption would be expected.…”

“…User-centered design models are the most widely accepted and may have, at least in part, led to the current low uptake environment. These designs have not holistically considered accessibility (financial, acquisition), wants versus needs, privacy concerns, and end-user support and maintenance [23,28,29]. These design models may not take into consideration that the end-user is likely not to be the primary barrier to wider integration [30].…”

“…As the older adult population increases and alternative aging-in-place solutions emerge, it is important that HSHs are designed for the unique needs of the older adult end-user [32]. The older generation may not be universally comfortable with technology leading to varied perceptions about living with sensor-based monitoring [23]. Older adults and their family caregivers need to be more informed about how the HSH could support older adults to remain living independently, and HSHs should be designed to consider user preferences, add value, and not impinge on the quality of life or privacy [33].…”

“…The readiness of HSH adoption among older adults is questionable, and more studies are needed. Previous studies have reported that older adults have limited knowledge of how the HSH works and how it can be used to support them to age-in-place [23,29]. However, others suggest that whilst older adults also have concerns about maintaining privacy, they are willing to trade perceived loss of privacy for independence if they can remain living in their own home with the HSH [23,[37][38][39].…”