Factors Associated with the Acceptance of New Technologies for Ageing in Place by People over 64 Years of Age

Abstract

Background: In the context of growing population ageing, technologies aimed at helping people age in place play a fundamental role. Acceptance of the implementation of technological solutions can be defined as the intention to use a technology or the effective use of it. Approaches based on the technology acceptance model (TAM) have been shown to have good predictive power for pre-implementation attitudes towards new technologies. Objective: To analyze the degree of acceptability of the use of new technologies for ageing in place and the factors associated with greater acceptance in people older than 64 years. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out. Sociodemographic, clinical and environmental variables, architectural barriers, social risk and quality of life, degree of autonomy, morbidity, and risk of falls were collected in a population sample over 64 years of age in a large region of western Spain. The degree of acceptance of the use of technologies was measured through a scale based on the TAM. Results: Of the 293 people included in the study, 36.2% exhibited a high acceptability of new technologies, 28.3% exhibited a medium acceptability, and 35.5% exhibited a low acceptability. Of all the factors, age, education level, and living alone were significantly associated with high acceptance in the adjusted analyses. Conclusions: Younger age, a higher education level, and living alone are factors associated with a greater degree of acceptance of the use of technologies for ageing in place.

Caring for Frail Older People Living Alone in Italy: Future Housing Solutions and Responsibilities of Family and Public Services, a Qualitative Study

“…Our results are on the whole in line with those in the previous literature, especially regarding Southern European countries such as Italy [ 43 ], thus indicating that the majority of older people prefer to age in place/in their homes, at least even with a PCA, with little intention to consider moving elsewhere, e.g., to a nursing home or going to live with family/children [ 70 , 71 , 72 ]. Other authors [ 73 ] more specifically found that in later life, 37% of individuals would prefer to live independently at home.…”

“…A study explored in particular the role of loneliness and depression as risk factors for suicidal ideation among residents in nursing homes, and found that about 20% of them experienced such a thought [ 85 ]. Some interviewees also reported that, as was the case for PCAs, the nursing home is rejected for economic reasons, as highlighted by Chimento-Díaz and colleagues [ 70 ], who associated the degree of institutionalization with economic issues, in addition to the level of dependence of seniors.…”

Health Emergencies, Falls, and Use of Communication Technologies by Older People with Functional and Social Frailty: Ageing in Place in Deprived Areas of Italy

“…However, as also emerged from our findings, many authors put in evidence that often older people do not use such alarms to call for help after a fall [ 81 , 82 ], since they consider these devices really intrusive, especially at night, and do not remember to wear them, even though alarms can increase their sense of safety at home [ 82 , 83 , 84 ]. Acceptance of technologies, aimed at supporting older people living alone, plays a fundamental role for ageing in place [ 85 ], and results from a study [ 38 ] showed indeed the need of wearable and easy to use alarms, as well as the need to introduce measures to promote the acceptance itself by seniors. Sarlo and colleagues [ 86 ] report different results, indicating that technology is almost appreciated among seniors living in North Italy (Bolzano), where the use of personal alarms has been successfully implemented, and whose signals (measurements of parameters and medical alarms) can be sent via text messages or e-mail, by mobile phone, both to family members and a Social Services Company.…”

Avoiding God’s Waiting Room: Lessons from the Lived Experiences of Older People who Use Digital Technology to Support Physical Activity

“…Heterogeneity is also a consideration (Chimento-Díaz et al, 2022). PA-related technology may offer little to help older people struggling with barriers to being active such as pain and physical limitations (Perracini et al, 2017), fear of falling or beliefs about PA being unnecessary or too risky .…”