This study analyses ‘Do‐It‐Yourself’ (DIY) gerontechnologies and shows that they can be viable and valuable alternatives to ‘ready‐made’ gerontechnologies. Using the concept of innosumption, we ...analyze the work of care workers in gerontechnology showrooms in Norway. We show how and why care workers will sometimes advice older adults to assemble DIY‐gerontechnologies. Such DIY‐gerontechnologies are not high‐tech solutions made by technology producers, but creative solutions that older adults’ suit to their specific needs and assemble for themselves from mundane objects that are available in shops. So far, analyses of the design, implementation and use of gerontechnologies have almost exclusively focused on professionally designed and produced ‘ready‐made’ gerontechnologies. But for various reasons, ready‐made gerontechnologies often do not fit in well with the lives of older people. In such cases, care workers guide older people to the innosumption of DIY‐gerontechnologies that offer workable solutions that are useful, quickly implemented, easily understandable and often cheap. We show that and how the existence of DIY‐gerontechnologies questions the reasons behind the strong and widely accepted assumption that only high‐tech innovations are a proper solution to the needs of older people.
•Personalizing these technologies can convey the narratives of people with dementia.•Family involvement in personalization aids both care staff and dementia patients.•Assess caregivers' needs before ...implementing technology-based interventions.•Training, support, and integration of multimedia tools should be sensitive.•Evaluate social benefits and caregiver burden to measure intervention efficacy.
Interactive multimedia systems are widely used to enhance participation in meaningful activities for older people living with dementia. This review aims to analyze and synthesize current evidence regarding personalization of these systems, by considering the type of content included, the selection process and the experience of people living with dementia when interacting with the content.
In accordance with PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO registration number blinded for review), a systematic search was undertaken across 4 databases. Meta-aggregation pooled data for synthesis.
A total of 520 articles were identified from searches in four databases, and 15 were included in this review. Two classes of content were identified: personal, often autobiographical; and curated, carefully chosen generic content appropriate for a wider group of people in the demographic. Variety of content can act as a trigger for autobiographical memories. Personalized music enhanced a desire to engage and prompted meaningful interactions among participants.
Despite some differences in the selected studies, the findings enabled us outline key points to consider when personalizing interactive multimedia systems for people living with dementia. Further research should focus on studying the social condition of the target users during the personalization process and on the benefits for caregivers.
This special issue was prepared by the Francophone Chapter of the International Society for Gerontechnology (ISG) to honor Dr. Alain Franco, professor emeritus of Internal medicine and Geriatrics at ...Nice-Sophia Antipolis University Hospital (France) and founder of the Chapter. As an introduction to this special issue, we present the evolution of the Francophone Chapter, starting with the important contributions of Dr. Franco in its development and establishment, followed by its subsequent achievements and vision for the future.
Advancements in medical science and technology, medicine and public health coupled with increased consciousness about nutrition and environmental and personal hygiene have paved the way for the ...dramatic increase in life expectancy globally in the past several decades. However, increased life expectancy has given rise to an increasing aging population, thus jeopardizing the socio-economic structure of many countries in terms of costs associated with elderly healthcare and wellbeing. In order to cope with the growing need for elderly healthcare services, it is essential to develop affordable, unobtrusive and easy-to-use healthcare solutions. Smart homes, which incorporate environmental and wearable medical sensors, actuators, and modern communication and information technologies, can enable continuous and remote monitoring of elderly health and wellbeing at a low cost. Smart homes may allow the elderly to stay in their comfortable home environments instead of expensive and limited healthcare facilities. Healthcare personnel can also keep track of the overall health condition of the elderly in real-time and provide feedback and support from distant facilities. In this paper, we have presented a comprehensive review on the state-of-the-art research and development in smart home based remote healthcare technologies.
Abstract
Purpose of the Study
Participatory design (PD) is widely used within gerontechnology but there is no common understanding about which methods are used for what purposes. This review aims to ...examine what different forms of PD exist in the field of gerontechnology and how these can be categorized.
Design and Methods
We conducted a systematic literature review covering several databases. The search strategy was based on 3 elements: (1) participatory methods and approaches with (2) older persons aiming at developing (3) technology for older people.
Results
Our final review included 26 studies representing a variety of technologies designed/developed and methods/instruments applied. According to the technologies, the publications reviewed can be categorized in 3 groups: Studies that (1) use already existing technology with the aim to find new ways of use; (2) aim at creating new devices; (3) test and/or modify prototypes. The implementation of PD depends on the questions: Why a participatory approach is applied, who is involved as future user(s), when those future users are involved, and how they are incorporated into the innovation process.
Implications
There are multiple ways, methods, and instruments to integrate users into the innovation process. Which methods should be applied, depends on the context. However, most studies do not evaluate if participatory approaches will lead to a better acceptance and/or use of the co-developed products. Therefore, participatory design should follow a comprehensive strategy, starting with the users’ needs and ending with an evaluation if the applied methods have led to better results.
•AI in elderly care promises to be predictive, personalized, preventive, participatory.•AI could also bring disruption of care processes and relationships.•Model to frame ethical risks is ...lacking.•4d-model: risk of depersonalized, discriminatory, dehumanized, disciplining care.•Joint effort of all stakeholders to prevent 4d-risks needed.
Gerontechnology based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) is expected to fulfill the promise of the so-called 4p-medicine and enable a predictive, personalized, preventive, and participatory elderly care. Although empirical evidence shows positive health outcomes, commentators are concerned that AI-based gerontechnology could bring along the disruption of elderly care. A systematic conceptualization of these concerns is lacking. In this paper, such a conceptualization is suggested by analyzing the risks of AI in elderly care as “4d-risks”: the depersonalization of care through algorithm-based standardization, the discrimination of minority groups through generalization, the dehumanization of the care relationship through automatization, and the disciplination of users through monitoring and surveillance. Based on the 4d-model, strategies for a patient-centered AI in elderly care are outlined. Whether AI-based gerontechnology will actualize the 4p-perspective or bring about the 4d-scenario depends on whether joint efforts of users, caregivers, care providers, engineers, and policy makers will be made.
Highlights • Technology readiness for smart home and health monitoring technologies is low. • High level of evidence for monitoring function, cognitive and mental health. • Minimal evidence ...technology predicts disability, prevents falls, helps quality of life. • Conflicting evidence home health technologies help conditions of COPD.
Abstract
We propose directions for future research on aging and technology to address fundamental changes in the experience of later life that come with the “digitization” of societies. Our argument ...is contextualized by the massive investments of policy makers and companies in gerontechnologies and their failure to create scale and impact. Partly this failure is due to an interventionist logic that positions new technologies as interventions or solutions to the problems of aging. What has been overlooked – at least theoretically – is how aging is already co-constituted by gerontechnology design, the socio-material practices it enacts, and the policy discourse around them. Goals are (a) reviewing elements of the current aging and technology agenda, (b) demonstrating how the interventionist logic has hampered theory development (and practical impact), (c) pulling together key insights from the emerging body of empirical literature at the intersection of social gerontology and Science and Technology Studies (STS), with the objective of (d) providing directions for future research on aging and technology. Our argument presents the theoretical gains that can be made by combining insights from STS and social gerontology to research the co-constitution of aging and technology.
Background: Most older adults prefer to age in place, and supporting older adults to remain in their own homes and communities is also favored by policy makers. Technology can play a role in staying ...independent, active and healthy. However, the use of technology varies considerably among older adults. Previous research indicates that current models of technology acceptance are missing essential predictors specific to community-dwelling older adults. Furthermore, in situ research within the specific context of aging in place is scarce, while this type of research is needed to better understand how and why community-dwelling older adults are using technology. Objective: To explore which factors influence the level of use of various types of technology by older adults who are aging in place and to describe these factors in a comprehensive model. Methods: A qualitative explorative field study was set up, involving home visits to 53 community-dwelling older adults, aged 68-95, living in the Netherlands. Purposive sampling was used to include participants with different health statuses, living arrangements, and levels of technology experience. During each home visit: (1) background information on the participants' chronic conditions, major life events, frailty, cognitive functioning, subjective health, ownership and use of technology was gathered, and (2) a semistructured interview was conducted regarding reasons for the level of use of technology. The study was designed to include various types of technology that could support activities of daily living, personal health or safety, mobility, communication, physical activity, personal development, and leisure activities. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze interview transcripts. Results: The level of technology use in the context of aging in place is influenced by six major themes: challenges in the domain of independent living; behavioral options; personal thoughts on technology use; influence of the social network; influence of organizations, and the role of the physical environment. Conclusion: Older adults' perceptions and use of technology are embedded in their personal, social, and physical context. Awareness of these psychological and contextual factors is needed in order to facilitate aging in place through the use of technology. A conceptual model covering these factors is presented.
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