FAMILIARITY, ACCEPTANCE, AND EASE OF USE IN COMMUNICATIONS AND MONITORING TECHNOLOGIES THAT FACILITATE HEALTHY AGING IN PLACE

 Caitlyn DeMars, undergraduate in Interior Design and Housing StudiesMentor: Dr. Atiya Mahmood, Assistant Professor of Housing Studies

Center for Healthy Aging Research and Department of Design and Human Environment, Oregon State University, USA Funding: Center for Healthy Aging Research, Oregon State University

Focus and BackgroundFOCUS:Understand older adults’ and caregivers’ perception of gerotechnology to gain insight into how these

technologies may support caregiving roles and facilitate healthy and safe aging in place.

BACKGROUND:• 85% of people over 75 years old prefer to stay in their own home for life [1]

• 10.5 million older Americans live alone and this number will drastically increase as the baby boomer generation reaches the age of 65 • Older adults have significantly improved quality of life, social connectedness to family/friends and fewer health-care complaints when they are able to safely age-in-place [3]

Current home environment situation: - Most residences are not designed for aging in place - They do not accommodate the changing physical, cognitive, and social needs of older adults - Many older adults who continue to reside in their homes often need assistance with daily activities Current caregiving situation:

- Most assistance for older adults is provided by informal/family caregivers- There are an estimated 44 million caregivers in the U.S., ., 79% caring for older adults, 83% family caregivers- Caregivers experiencing role strain have a 63% higher mortality rate than non-caregivers

Gerotechnology, older adults, and caregivers: - Gerotechnologies may facilitate aging in place, reduce pressure on caregivers & the healthcare system [4,5]

- There is limited research on older adults’ and caregivers’ perception and use of gerotechnology - Older adults are surprisingly willing to adopt and learn new technology if the adult understands how the technology will enhance their health and/or living situation - One of the largest deterrents for older adults is the lack of knowledge regarding the technologies available For the caregivers, the largest deterrent is costFor the caregivers, the largest deterrent is cost

Definition of Gerotechnology

Gerotechnology is described as an emerging field that focuses on the development of instruments, devices, and ideas that implement technology for the benefit of older adults and caregiver.

The term is often used interchangeably with assistive technology and gerontechnology.

Consistent FindingsOlder Adults:• They are willing to learn and use new technology if it helps them age in place• Assistive technologies are positively viewed if they help OAs achieve things they cannot do on their own,

or if it increases their health and safety• Most older adults who trialed gerotechnologies rated the devices as “somewhat to very beneficial”• Older adults usually need to experience the technology to realize its importance otherwise there will be

lack of perceived need• The main deterrents include: price, lack of knowledge regarding what is available, and lack of training on

how to use the device• Privacy is NOT a main concern• The willingness to use devices exceeds awareness for each item• OAs will require assistance installing the devices and a 24hr help line to encourage continued use of the

device

Caregivers: • The majority have positive attitudes and experiences with gerotechnology• Caregivers are most drawn to devices that make the recipient feel safer, provides the caregiver with a

peace of mind, and saves the caregiver and recipient money• They have greatest appreciation for devices that advance their knowledge about caregiving as well as

provide a respite from their responsibilities• The biggest perceived barrier is cost and the concern for stigmatizing the person he/she helps• Monitoring systems reduce some burden and stress, provides caregivers with positive feelings regarding

their duties, and encourages them to seek emotional support• Online support groups were continually found to be beneficial\• Participants appreciated the fact that online support groups allowed for flexibility in their schedules and

that they could participate from home• Hospital and Hospice staff have negative perceived ease-of-use and assumptions that their clients would

find the equipment difficult to use and offensive if referred to it

Method: Literature ReviewLiterature Collection Keyword search of online databases and manual searches of relevant journals, magazines, and newspaper

articles

Categories of Data Collection a) Older Adult’s (OA) b) Caregivers - Empirical or Non-Empirical - Empirical: Formal and Informal - Focused on OAs: - Non-Empirical: Formal and Informal

- attitudes towards certain technologies - Focused on caregivers: - reactions during the trials - perceptions and receptivity of gerotechnology - obstacles that prevented adoption of the technology - which technologies were of interest and why - and major and consistent findings - personal determinants for the successful or failed adoption

- effects on caregiver stress and burden

Literature Review Format• Empirical articles follow this format: focus of article, research design, sample information and site, findings,

and implications of findings• Non-Empirical articles follow this format: focus of article, type of healthcare facility, recommendations, and

findings

Databases Ageline (AARP), Medline, EBSCOhost, Worldcat, CINAHL, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition

Keywords technology, gerotechnology, assistive technology, older adults, caregivers, perceptions, caregiver burden,

telemedicine, telehealth, e-health, videophones, information communication technology, privacy, ethics, baby boomers, health and home monitors, obstacles, etc.

Older Adults and Cargivers

References1) American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) (2003). Housing preferences of older adults. Washington, DC: AARP.2) Tilson, D. (Ed.) (1989). Aging in place: Supporting the frail elderly in residential environments. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman & Company3) Zarit, S. H., Reever, K. E., & Bach-Peterson, J. (1980). Relatives of the impaired elderly: Correlates of feelings of burden, Gerontologist,

20(6), 649-655.5) Dishman, E. (2003). Designing for the new old: Asking, observing, and performing future elders, In B. Laurel Ed.), Design research:

Methods and perspective (pp. 41-48). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.6) Dishman, E. Matthews, J. & Dunbar-Jacob, J. (2003). “Everyday health: Technology for adaptive aging,” In R. W. Pew & S. B. Van Hemel

(Eds.), Technology for adaptive aging (pp.179-208). Washington, DC: The National Academy Press.

Research Questions The research questions that guided this review included, but was not limited to: 1. Of which technologies are older adults and caregivers aware? -How do the older adults/caregivers become aware of these technologies? 2. Would older adults/caregivers be willing to use these devices if available? -What inhibits older adults/caregivers from adopting these technologies? -What factors contribute to technology receptivity by the older adult/caregiver? -What factors lead to the success or failure to telehealth implementation in a hospice setting? 3. Is home surveillance ethical? - Are older adults willing to give up their privacy for safety? If yes, to what extent? If no, why not? 4. Are the older adults/caregivers satisfied with the technologies they use? -How do these technologies affect the caregiver’s burden and stress?

Mirabella – Portland, OR

Fig. 1: Percentage of Older Adults Living Alone

Table 1: Older Adults Descriptive Data

Future Research Gerotechnology is a young field of study and it requires more development in order to understand

all its benefits and shortcomings for those it strives to assist. Aside from developing new technologies, it is imperative to fully understand older adults’ needs and preferences in order to adapt current technologies to meet their needs

Suggested Directions:• How can the technologies/devices be made user-friendly for older adults• What is considered user-friendly• What factors contribute to successful or failed adoption of the technology for both the care recipient and

the caregiver• How can educators help health professionals overcome their incorrect assumptions• Which avenues are most effective in educating older adults and caregivers about the benefits these

technologies have• Regarding videophones: how can virtual visits be structured to lower anxiety and improve the quality or

caregiving for both the caregiver and the recipient; how can research be integrated into care delivery in supportive rather than burdensome ways

• Regarding monitoring systems: how can we introduce these kinds of systems within an industry that has been based overwhelmingly on face-to-face human contact? What appropriate guidelines should be developed?

Fig. 2: Caregiver Stress Index