A Qualitative Study toward Technologies for Active and Healthy Aging: A Thematic Analysis of Perspectives among Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary End Users

Abstract

It is expected that, by 2050, people aged over 60 in 65 nations will constitute 30% of the total population. Healthy aging is at the top of the world political agenda as a possible means for hindering the collapse of care systems. How can ICT/sensing technology meet older people’s needs for active and healthy aging? This qualitative study carried out in Italy and Romania in 2020 involved 30 participants: older adults, caregivers, and stakeholders. Based on a user-centered design approach, this study aimed to understand which requirements of ICT/sensing technologies could match people’s needs of active and healthy aging. Findings highlighted that ICT/sensing technology needs to focus on six major themes: (1) learnability, (2) security, (3) independence, empowerment, and coaching values, (4) social isolation, (5) impact of habit, culture, and education variables, and (6) personalized solutions. These themes are consistent with the Active Aging framework and the factors that influence perceived usefulness and potential benefits among older adults. Consequently, this study shows how well-known, but still unresolved, issues affect the field of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to promote active and healthy aging. This suggests that the reinforcement of the public health system, especially considering the pandemic effect, requires a concrete and formidable effort from an interdisciplinary research network.

Older Adults’ Perspectives of Smart Technologies to Support Aging at Home: Insights from Five World Café Forums

“…The research described here confirmed the previous international studies that the predicted capacity to remain independent was a major factor in the acceptance of smart technologies in the home [8,27,29,35,36,48,49]. However, even where some dependency occurs, self-determination is still possible [8,50].…”

The Wellbeing of Chinese Migrating Grandparents Supporting Adult Children: Negotiating in Home-Making Practices

“…After each round of data collection, we transcribed all the interview recordings into texts and read the transcripts and field notes to fully understand the home-making stories and personal feelings. Thematic analysis was adopted manually through thematic charts as it is suitable to extract the themes about the negotiation of wellbeing in home-making practices and is frequently used in the literature on elders’ place-based aging and wellbeing [ 67 , 68 ]. Based on previous literature, we first divided the data into three categories, material, social, and emotional/spiritual home-making practices (including the corresponding narration of wellbeing experience).…”

Digital health in older adults for the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases and frailty. A clinical consensus statement from the ESC Council for Cardiology Practice/Taskforce on Geriatric Cardiology, the ESC Digital Health Committee and the ESC Working Group on e‐Cardiology

“…Although the familiarity of older adults with technology is increasing, barriers to wider adoption include very old age, lower disposable income, and higher co‐morbidity. 139 , 140 , 141 Although patients with cognitive impairment and high degree of frailty are probably less likely to direct benefit from DH approaches to disease management and care, DH technology may provide support to their caregivers. Whilst it has been shown that older adults are less likely to use new technology compared with younger adults, there is ample evidence that they also desire interaction with new technologies to remain active and engaged with society.…”