Perceptions and Use of Gerotechnology: Implications for Aging in Place

Abstract

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...

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