Matching gerontechnologies to independent-living seniors’ individual needs: development of the GTM tool

BackgroundMost seniors wish to live independently for as long as possible. Gerontechnologies such as personal alarms or remote control systems, have the potential to help them age in place. For seniors, assessing what is the most appropriate technology for their aging in place needs can be difficult. Professionals specifically tasked with matching seniors’ needs with technology solutions can greatly help here. Yet not much is known about the challenges these professionals face or how they can optimize their matchmaking service.MethodsParticipatory action research was conducted in the Netherlands, in two phases. In phase one, ten matchmaking dialogues between municipal technology consultants and seniors were observed, followed by interviews with both technology consultants and seniors to understand the current matchmaking service. In phase two, a new matchmaking tool was co-created with technology consultants and other professionals over the course of four co-creation session. Variants of the tool were tested out in nine additional matchmaking dialogues. The Cycle of Technology Acquirement by Independent-Living Seniors (C-TAILS) model, which can be used to understand both origins and consequences of technology acquirement by independent-living seniors, was used as a theoretical lens.ResultsImportant challenges for municipal technology consultants in their current matchmaking practice are: making the matchmaking service more demand oriented and creating an accurate and complete overview of relevant factors within the seniors’ individual situation so that an optimal match can be made. Together with technology consultants and other professionals, a new Gerontechnologies Matchmaking (GTM) tool was created to help overcome these challenges. Evaluation of the tool showed that it better includes each senior’s personal, social, physical and technological context, within the matchmaking service.ConclusionProfessionals who help seniors match gerontechnology to their aging in place needs experience a variety of challenges in the delivery of their service. Currently, few tools are available for them to overcome these challenges. The newly developed GTM tool can help overcome challenges and optimize matchmaking services. Further testing of the tool in different contexts is needed to determine its generalizability.

[1]  William J. Chopik,et al.  Individual difference predictors of ICT use in older adulthood: A study of 17 candidate characteristics , 2017, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[2]  Alex Carmichael,et al.  Investigating a DTV-based physical activity application to facilitate wellbeing in older adults , 2010, BCS HCI.

[3]  S. V. Hees.  The making of ageing-in-place : Perspectives on a Dutch social policy towards lifecycle-robust neighbourhoods , 2017 .

[4]  J. Petermans,et al.  Gerontechnology : don't miss the train, but which is the right carriage , 2017 .

[5]  Sil Aarts,et al.  Can smart home technology deliver on the promise of independent living?: A critical reflection based on the perspectives of older adults , 2009 .

[6]  B. L. Combs,et al.  Managing decline in assisted living: the key to aging in place. , 2004, The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences.

[7]  L. D. de Witte,et al.  Existing models and instruments for the selection of assistive technology in rehabilitation practice , 2009, Scandinavian journal of occupational therapy.

[8]  J. Davey,et al.  Accommodation Options for Older People in Aotearoa/New Zealand , 2004 .

[9]  M. E. Nieboer,et al.  Origins and consequences of technology acquirement by independent-living seniors: towards an integrative model , 2017, BMC Geriatrics.

[10]  Stefano Federici,et al.  A Person-Centered Assistive Technology Service Delivery Model: a framework for device selection and assignment , 2014 .

[11]  A. Mcintyre,et al.  Participatory Action Research , 2007 .

[12]  Marcia J. Scherer,et al.  The matching person and technology model. , 2004 .

[13]  Julie Doyle,et al.  Lessons learned in deploying independent living technologies to older adults’ homes , 2013, Universal Access in the Information Society.

[14]  Katrien G Luijkx,et al.  Diversity in Older Adults’ Use of the Internet: Identifying Subgroups Through Latent Class Analysis , 2017, Journal of medical Internet research.

[15]  Marcia J. Scherer,et al.  Connecting to Learn: Educational and Assistive Technology for People with Disabilities , 2003 .

[16]  Sebastian Merkel,et al.  Participatory Design in Gerontechnology: A Systematic Literature Review , 2019, The Gerontologist.

[17]  Yang Yang,et al.  Dynamics and heterogeneity in the process of human frailty and aging: evidence from the U.S. older adult population. , 2010, The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences.

[18]  Martin Knapp,et al.  Exploring barriers to participation and adoption of telehealth and telecare within the Whole System Demonstrator trial: a qualitative study , 2012, BMC Health Services Research.

[19]  Ke Chen,et al.  Use or Non-Use of Gerontechnology—A Qualitative Study , 2013, International journal of environmental research and public health.

[20]  Duncan Boldy,et al.  Older people's decisions regarding ‘ageing in place’: A Western Australian case study , 2011, Australasian journal on ageing.

[21]  E. Agree,et al.  The potential for technology to enhance independence for those aging with a disability. , 2014, Disability and health journal.

[22]  Jon Pynoos,et al.  LIFELONG HOUSING: The Anchor in Aging-Friendly Communities , 2009 .

[23]  Tina Janamian,et al.  Achieving Research Impact Through Co‐creation in Community‐Based Health Services: Literature Review and Case Study , 2016, The Milbank quarterly.

[24]  R. Mostaghel,et al.  Innovation and technology for the elderly: Systematic literature review , 2016 .

[25]  L. Morgan,et al.  Preferences for Receipt of Care Among Community-Dwelling Adults , 2004, Journal of aging & social policy.

[26]  Sil Aarts,et al.  Older Adults' Reasons for Using Technology while Aging in Place , 2015, Gerontology.

[27]  Joost van Hoof,et al.  Factors influencing acceptance of technology for aging in place: A systematic review , 2014, Int. J. Medical Informatics.

[28]  Caitlin N. Dorsey,et al.  Psychometric assessment of three newly developed implementation outcome measures , 2017, Implementation Science.

[29]  Hilary Bradbury-Huang.  What is good action research? , 2010 .

[30]  Ronan McDonnell,et al.  Designing a touch screen communication device to support social interaction amongst older adults , 2010, BCS HCI.

[31]  Teresa Foo,et al.  : SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW , 2004 .

[32]  A. Newell,et al.  OLDER PEOPLE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ARE IDEAL PARTNERS , 2002 .

[33]  L. Whitmarsh,et al.  Social barriers to the adoption of smart homes , 2013 .

[34]  M. Fox.  Embodied Methodologies, Participation, and the Art of Research , 2015 .

[35]  Paul Dieppe,et al.  Dignity in older age: what do older people in the United Kingdom think? , 2004, Age and ageing.

[36]  Simon Fielden,et al.  Developing the assistive technology consumer market for people aged 50–70 , 2016, Ageing and Society.

[37]  Simon Clatworthy,et al.  Service design thinking , 2017 .

[38]  D. Dannefer,et al.  Aged heterogeneity: fact or fiction? The fate of diversity in gerontological research. , 1992, The Gerontologist.

[39]  Daniela Sangiorgi,et al.  Service Design and Healthcare Innovation: fr0m consumption to co-production and co-creation , 2012 .

[40]  M. Paik,et al.  Evaluation of a technology-enhanced integrated care model for frail older persons: protocol of the SPEC study, a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial in nursing homes , 2017, BMC Geriatrics.

[41]  V. Braun,et al.  Using thematic analysis in psychology , 2006 .

[42]  David E. Avison,et al.  Positivist Information Systems Action Research: Methodological Issues , 2017, J. Manag. Inf. Syst..

[43]  S. Peek,et al.  Understanding technology acceptance by older adults who are aging in place: A dynamic perspective , 2017 .

[44]  M. Scherer,et al.  Matching Person & Technology (MPT) assessment process , 2002 .

[45]  George Demiris,et al.  Framing the evidence for health smart homes and home-based consumer health technologies as a public health intervention for independent aging: A systematic review , 2013, Int. J. Medical Informatics.