Peek Sebastiaan T M, Luijkx Katrien G, Rijnaard Maurice D, Nieboer Marianne E, van der Voort Claire S, Aarts Sil, van Hoof Joost, Vrijhoef Hubertus J M, Wouters Eveline J M
Chair of Health Innovations and Technology, Institute of Allied Health Professions, Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
Gerontology. 2016;62(2):226-37. doi: 10.1159/000430949. Epub 2015 Jun 5.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
大多数老年人希望在自己家中养老，政策制定者也支持老年人留在自己的家中和社区。技术可以在保持独立、活跃和健康方面发挥作用。然而，老年人对技术的使用差异很大。先前的研究表明，当前的技术接受模型缺少针对居家老年人的重要预测因素。此外，针对就地养老这一特定背景的实地研究很少，而这类研究对于更好地理解居家老年人如何以及为何使用技术是必要的。
探讨哪些因素影响就地养老的老年人对各类技术的使用水平，并在一个综合模型中描述这些因素。
开展了一项定性探索性实地研究，对荷兰53名年龄在68至95岁之间的居家老年人进行家访。采用目的抽样法纳入具有不同健康状况、生活安排和技术经验水平的参与者。在每次家访中：(1)收集参与者慢性病、重大生活事件、虚弱状况、认知功能、主观健康、技术拥有情况和使用情况的背景信息，(2)就技术使用水平的原因进行半结构化访谈。该研究旨在涵盖可支持日常生活活动、个人健康或安全、 mobility、通信、体育活动、个人发展和休闲活动的各类技术。采用主题分析法分析访谈记录。
就地养老背景下的技术使用水平受六个主要主题影响：独立生活领域的挑战；行为选择；对技术使用的个人想法；社交网络的影响；组织的影响，以及物理环境的作用。
老年人对技术的认知和使用嵌入在他们的个人、社会和物理环境中。为了通过技术使用促进就地养老，需要了解这些心理和环境因素。提出了一个涵盖这些因素的概念模型。
