scholarly journals A Qualitative Study toward Technologies for Active and Healthy Aging: A Thematic Analysis of Perspectives among Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary End Users

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 7489
Author(s):  
Margherita Rampioni ◽  
Adrian Alexandru Moșoi ◽  
Lorena Rossi ◽  
Sorin-Aurel Moraru ◽  
Dan Rosenberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Political Agenda ◽  
User Centered Design ◽  
Sensing Technology ◽  
Care Systems

It is expected that, by 2050, people aged over 60 in 65 nations will constitute 30% of the total population. Healthy aging is at the top of the world political agenda as a possible means for hindering the collapse of care systems. How can ICT/sensing technology meet older people’s needs for active and healthy aging? This qualitative study carried out in Italy and Romania in 2020 involved 30 participants: older adults, caregivers, and stakeholders. Based on a user-centered design approach, this study aimed to understand which requirements of ICT/sensing technologies could match people’s needs of active and healthy aging. Findings highlighted that ICT/sensing technology needs to focus on six major themes: (1) learnability, (2) security, (3) independence, empowerment, and coaching values, (4) social isolation, (5) impact of habit, culture, and education variables, and (6) personalized solutions. These themes are consistent with the Active Aging framework and the factors that influence perceived usefulness and potential benefits among older adults. Consequently, this study shows how well-known, but still unresolved, issues affect the field of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to promote active and healthy aging. This suggests that the reinforcement of the public health system, especially considering the pandemic effect, requires a concrete and formidable effort from an interdisciplinary research network.

scholarly journals Use of an Internet-of-Things Smart Home System for Healthy Aging in Older Adults in Residential Settings: Pilot Feasibility Study

JMIR Aging ◽  
10.2196/21964 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. e21964
Author(s):  
Yong K Choi ◽  
Hilaire J Thompson ◽  
George Demiris
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Internet Of Things ◽  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Real World ◽  
Smart Home ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Residential Settings ◽  
Iot Devices

Background The Internet-of-Things (IoT) technologies can create smart residences that integrate technology within the home to enhance residents’ safety as well as monitor their health and wellness. However, there has been little research on real-world testing of IoT smart home devices with older adults, and the feasibility and acceptance of such tools have not been systematically examined. Objective This study aims to conduct a pilot study to investigate the feasibility of using IoT smart home devices in the actual residences of older adults to facilitate healthy aging. Methods We conducted a 2-month feasibility study on community-dwelling older adults. Participants chose among different IoT devices to be installed and deployed within their homes. The IoT devices tested varied depending on the participant’s preference: a door and window sensor, a multipurpose sensor (motion, temperature, luminosity, and humidity), a voice-operated smart speaker, and an internet protocol (IP) video camera. Results We recruited a total of 37 older adults for this study, with 35 (95%) successfully completing all procedures in the 2-month study. The average age of the sample was 78 (SD 9) years and primarily comprised women (29/37, 78%), those who were educated (31/37, 86%; bachelor’s degree or higher), and those affected by chronic conditions (33/37, 89%). The most widely chosen devices among the participants were multipurpose sensors and smart speakers. An IP camera was a significantly unpopular choice among participants in both phases. The participant feedback suggests that perceived privacy concerns, perceived usefulness, and curiosity to technology were strong factors when considering which device to have installed in their home. Conclusions Overall, our deployment results revealed that the use of IoT smart home devices is feasible in actual residences of older adults. These findings may inform the follow-up assessment of IoT technologies and their impact on health-related outcomes and advance our understanding of the role of IoT home-based monitoring technologies to promote successful aging-in-place for older adults. Future trials should consider older adults’ preferences for the different types of smart home devices to be installed in real-world residential settings.

scholarly journals A Digital Coach Promoting Healthy Aging among Older Adults in Transition to Retirement: Results from a Qualitative Study in Italy

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (18) ◽  
pp. 7400
Author(s):  
Sara Santini ◽  
Flavia Galassi ◽  
Johannes Kropf ◽  
Vera Stara
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Health Coaching ◽  
Health Determinants ◽  
Health Coach ◽  
Transition To Retirement

Global aging and increasing multimorbidity are questioning the sustainability of healthcare systems. Healthy aging is at the top of the world political agenda, as a possible means for hindering the collapse of care systems. In the aging process, the transition to retirement can lead to an improvement or a deterioration of physical and psychological health. Digital health coaching technology can support older adults at this stage, but what must be the role of such a solution in promoting healthy aging and shaping sustainable care? This qualitative study, carried out in Italy in 2019, involved 15 older workers, retirees, and colleagues. Based on a user-centered design approach, this study aims at gathering older adults’ feelings on a digital health coaching technology for exploring this solution’s potential in promoting healthy aging. Findings highlighted that the digital health coach may help older adults improve several health determinants, e.g., physical activity, cognitive capabilities, and social life, but it can also entail the risk of stigma and break people’s privacy. The latter can be guaranteed by technology customization and codesign. Further research on the digital health coach benefits to boost healthy aging is needed to understand its potential for shaping future sustainable healthcare.

scholarly journals Safe, Affordable, Convenient: Environmental Features of Malls and Other Public Spaces Used by Older Adults for Walking

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diane K. King ◽  
Peg Allen ◽  
Dina L. Jones ◽  
David X. Marquez ◽  
David R. Brown ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Traffic Control ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Shopping Malls ◽  
Aging Research ◽  
Environmental Features ◽  
Control And Prevention

Background:Midlife and older adults use shopping malls for walking, but little research has examined mall characteristics that contribute to their walkability.Methods:We used modified versions of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-Healthy Aging Research Network (HAN) Environmental Audit and the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) tool to systematically observe 443 walkers in 10 shopping malls. We also observed 87 walkers in 6 community-based nonmall/nongym venues where older adults routinely walked for physical activity.Results:All venues had public transit stops and accessible parking. All malls and 67% of nonmalls had wayfinding aids, and most venues (81%) had an established circuitous walking route and clean, well-maintained public restrooms (94%). All venues had level floor surfaces, and one-half had benches along the walking route. Venues varied in hours of access, programming, tripping hazards, traffic control near entrances, and lighting.Conclusions:Despite diversity in location, size, and purpose, the mall and nonmall venues audited shared numerous environmental features known to promote walking in older adults and few barriers to walking. Future research should consider programmatic features and outreach strategies to expand the use of malls and other suitable public spaces for walking.

scholarly journals Digital Health Coaching Programs Among Older Employees in Transition to Retirement: Systematic Literature Review

10.2196/17809 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. e17809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera Stara ◽  
Sara Santini ◽  
Johannes Kropf ◽  
Barbara D'Amen
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Coaching ◽  
User Centered Design ◽  
Older Employees ◽  
User Centered

Background The rapid increase of the aging population is pushing many national governments to reshape retirement legislation in order to extend older adults’ working life. Once retired, older adults can be invaluable resources for the community as family carers, as volunteers, or by returning to work. Healthy aging is one of the main conditions for being able to work longer and being active after retirement. The latter, indeed, represents a very sensitive life transition, which can entail psychological and social difficulties. Interventions for promoting older workers’ health and well-being and supporting the transition to retirement are on the top of the policy agenda of most European countries. Recently, computer-based and digital health interventions have been seen as promising means to reach this purpose. Objective This systematic literature review aimed to explore studies on digital health coaching programs for older workers that followed a user-centered design approach and evaluated their effectiveness in providing older adults with guidance for adopting a healthy lifestyle and being active in the community. Methods The search identified 1931 papers, and 2 relevant articles were selected by applying specific eligibility criteria. Results To our knowledge, only few digital health coaching programs have targeted the population of older workers to date; there is an insufficient number of studies on the efficacy of such programs. The results show the difficulties of assessing the efficacy of digital coaching itself and with respect to older employees. The 2 studies suggest that digital health programs for workplaces can improve various aspects of older employees’ well-being; however, they considered health mainly from a physical perspective and neglected contextual, social, psychological, and cultural factors that can influence older workers’ health and general well-being. Future digital health coaching programs should adopt the healthy aging paradigm as a multidimensional lens for interpreting the impact of eHealth technology on aging and retirement. The literature around this issue remains at an embryonic state, and this gap needs to be filled by further investigations that apply a user-centered approach for designing the technology, test innovative research methodologies, and adopt new technical solutions for high-quality interaction design. Conclusions Further digital health coaching programs aimed at supporting healthy and active living for older workers and retirees are necessary. The user-centered design approach is recommended in order to fully address the users’ health needs and the technological requirements throughout development. Moreover, the healthy aging perspective allows inclusion of physical, social, and psychological factors influencing the transition from work to retirement, as well as the experiences and interactions of individuals with the technology.

scholarly journals Acceptability Among Community Healthcare Nurses of Intelligent Wireless Sensor-system Technology for the Rapid Detection of Health Issues in Home-dwelling Older Adults

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Cohen ◽  
Thomas Kampel ◽  
Henk Verloo
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Daily Practice ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Home Healthcare ◽  
Sensor System ◽  
Wireless Sensor ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Community Healthcare

Background: The effective care and support of community healthcare nurses (CHNs) contribute greatly to the healthy aging of older adults living at home. Integrating innovative technologies into CHNs’ daily practice offers new opportunities and perspectives for early detection of health issues and interventions among home-dwelling older adults. Aim: To explore the perception of acceptability among CHNs of an intelligent wireless sensor system (IWSS) for use in daily practice for the detection of health issues in home-dwelling older adults receiving home healthcare. Method: Descriptive and qualitative data were sourced from a pilot randomized controlled trial involving 17 CHNs using an IWSS in their daily practice to rapidly detect falls and other health issues in patients’ homes. IWSS alerts indicating behavior changes were sent to CHNs. Their perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEOU) were assessed. The acceptability of IWSS technology was explored using a questionnaire and focus group discussions. Results: The PU and PEOU of the IWSS technology were low to moderate. A majority of the CHNs were dissatisfied with its performance and intrusiveness; they reported multiple obstacles in the usefulness and ease of use of the IWSS technology in daily practice. Conclusion: To improve the IWSS technology’s low to moderate acceptability among CHNs, we recommend a more user-centered implementation strategy and an embedded model of nursing care.

scholarly journals Digital Health Coaching Programs Among Older Employees in Transition to Retirement: Systematic Literature Review (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera Stara ◽  
Sara Santini ◽  
Johannes Kropf ◽  
Barbara D'Amen
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Coaching ◽  
User Centered Design ◽  
Older Employees ◽  
User Centered

BACKGROUND The rapid increase of the aging population is pushing many national governments to reshape retirement legislation in order to extend older adults’ working life. Once retired, older adults can be invaluable resources for the community as family carers, as volunteers, or by returning to work. Healthy aging is one of the main conditions for being able to work longer and being active after retirement. The latter, indeed, represents a very sensitive life transition, which can entail psychological and social difficulties. Interventions for promoting older workers’ health and well-being and supporting the transition to retirement are on the top of the policy agenda of most European countries. Recently, computer-based and digital health interventions have been seen as promising means to reach this purpose. OBJECTIVE This systematic literature review aimed to explore studies on digital health coaching programs for older workers that followed a user-centered design approach and evaluated their effectiveness in providing older adults with guidance for adopting a healthy lifestyle and being active in the community. METHODS The search identified 1931 papers, and 2 relevant articles were selected by applying specific eligibility criteria. RESULTS To our knowledge, only few digital health coaching programs have targeted the population of older workers to date; there is an insufficient number of studies on the efficacy of such programs. The results show the difficulties of assessing the efficacy of digital coaching itself and with respect to older employees. The 2 studies suggest that digital health programs for workplaces can improve various aspects of older employees’ well-being; however, they considered health mainly from a physical perspective and neglected contextual, social, psychological, and cultural factors that can influence older workers’ health and general well-being. Future digital health coaching programs should adopt the healthy aging paradigm as a multidimensional lens for interpreting the impact of eHealth technology on aging and retirement. The literature around this issue remains at an embryonic state, and this gap needs to be filled by further investigations that apply a user-centered approach for designing the technology, test innovative research methodologies, and adopt new technical solutions for high-quality interaction design. CONCLUSIONS Further digital health coaching programs aimed at supporting healthy and active living for older workers and retirees are necessary. The user-centered design approach is recommended in order to fully address the users’ health needs and the technological requirements throughout development. Moreover, the healthy aging perspective allows inclusion of physical, social, and psychological factors influencing the transition from work to retirement, as well as the experiences and interactions of individuals with the technology.

Design of an mHealth app to promote day-long physical activity in older adults with chronic pain: Phase 1 of the MORPH study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Fanning ◽  
Amber Brooks ◽  
Edward Ip ◽  
Barbara Nicklas ◽  
W. Jack Rejeski
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Design Process ◽  
Underserved Populations ◽  
Activity Monitor ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Technology Selection ◽  
Large Trial ◽  
User Centered Design ◽  
User Centered

BACKGROUND Participating in physical activity and minimizing time spent sitting is an effective strategy for managing pain in older adults. Theory-based mHealth tools are integral to effective day-long physical activity interventions, but it is vital that mHealth tools undergo an iterative development process alongside members of the target population to ensure their uptake and use. OBJECTIVE We subjected a preliminary social cognitive smartphone application (Companion App) designed to promote day-long movement to a user centered design process with the assistance of low-active older adults with chronic multisite pain. The Companion App integrates ecological momentary assessments of pain, Fitbit activity monitor data, and smart weight scale data to provide real-time feedback on the relationships between movement, sitting, and pain and to facilitate goal setting and achievement. METHODS We recruited participants (N=5; 71.8 5.54 years old) sequentially to participate in a three-phase iterative design study. First, each participant received a brief orientation to physical activity, was exposed to the application, and engaged in a Think Aloud protocol. Use and usability issues were noted by study staff. The participant then used the app for one week in their daily lives, and then returned to provide feedback. Issues were identified from participant feedback, discussed with the study team, and modified before the next participant began the study. RESULTS Participant interviews yielded feedback in areas related to technology selection and operation, app design/form, and intervention clarity. Regarding technology, the use of the Fitbit activity monitor revealed no issues, but there were barriers to the use of the Fitbit Aria 2 scale, including incompatibility with a widely used home internet router. Switching to a cellular enabled scale alleviated this issue. With regard to form, modifications were made to several key interface elements in response to participant feedback to aid in clarity. Finally, initial participant experiences revealed the need to separate the intervention orientation from the technology orientation to minimize informational load. CONCLUSIONS Our brief user-centered design process produced key changes in our intervention orientation, the form and function of the Companion App, and the technologies that support the app. These are vital elements that are likely to hamper the perceived usefulness and utility of the Companion App in the context of a large trial and eventual public use. We recommend the conduct of such a process any time mHealth is used in research or medicine to account for changing populations and preferences. Moreover, publication of lessons learned can help to establish a foundation of knowledge for designing apps for underserved populations such as older adults. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03377634

scholarly journals Correction: Digital Health Coaching Programs Among Older Employees in Transition to Retirement: Systematic Literature Review (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera Stara ◽  
Sara Santini ◽  
Johannes Kropf ◽  
Barbara D'Amen
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Older Workers ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Coaching ◽  
User Centered Design ◽  
Older Employees ◽  
User Centered

UNSTRUCTURED The rapid increase of the aging population is pushing many national governments to reshape retirement legislation in order to extend older adults’ working life. Once retired, older adults can be invaluable resources for the community as family carers, as volunteers, or by returning to work. Healthy aging is one of the main conditions for being able to work longer and being active after retirement. The latter, indeed, represents a very sensitive life transition, which can entail psychological and social difficulties. Interventions for promoting older workers’ health and well-being and supporting the transition to retirement are on the top of the policy agenda of most European countries. Recently, computer-based and digital health interventions have been seen as promising means to reach this purpose. This systematic literature review aimed to explore studies on digital health coaching programs for older workers that followed a user-centered design approach and evaluated their effectiveness in providing older adults with guidance for adopting a healthy lifestyle and being active in the community. The search identified 1931 papers, and 2 relevant articles were selected by applying specific eligibility criteria. To our knowledge, only few digital health coaching programs have targeted the population of older workers to date; there is an insufficient number of studies on the efficacy of such programs. The results show the difficulties of assessing the efficacy of digital coaching itself and with respect to older employees. The 2 studies suggest that digital health programs for workplaces can improve various aspects of older employees’ well-being; however, they considered health mainly from a physical perspective and neglected contextual, social, psychological, and cultural factors that can influence older workers’ health and general well-being. Future digital health coaching programs should adopt the healthy aging paradigm as a multidimensional lens for interpreting the impact of eHealth technology on aging and retirement. The literature around this issue remains at an embryonic state, and this gap needs to be filled by further investigations that apply a user-centered approach for designing the technology, test innovative research methodologies, and adopt new technical solutions for high-quality interaction design. Further digital health coaching programs aimed at supporting healthy and active living for older workers and retirees are necessary. The user-centered design approach is recommended in order to fully address the users’ health needs and the technological requirements throughout development. Moreover, the healthy aging perspective allows inclusion of physical, social, and psychological factors influencing the transition from work to retirement, as well as the experiences and interactions of individuals with the technology. J Med Internet Res 2020;22(9):e17809

scholarly journals Use of an Internet-of-Things Smart Home System for Healthy Aging in Older Adults in Residential Settings: Pilot Feasibility Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong K Choi ◽  
Hilaire J Thompson ◽  
George Demiris
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Internet Of Things ◽  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Real World ◽  
Smart Home ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Residential Settings ◽  
Iot Devices

BACKGROUND The Internet-of-Things (IoT) technologies can create <i>smart</i> residences that integrate technology within the home to enhance residents’ safety as well as monitor their health and wellness. However, there has been little research on real-world testing of IoT smart home devices with older adults, and the feasibility and acceptance of such tools have not been systematically examined. OBJECTIVE This study aims to conduct a pilot study to investigate the feasibility of using IoT smart home devices in the actual residences of older adults to facilitate healthy aging. METHODS We conducted a 2-month feasibility study on community-dwelling older adults. Participants chose among different IoT devices to be installed and deployed within their homes. The IoT devices tested varied depending on the participant’s preference: a door and window sensor, a multipurpose sensor (motion, temperature, luminosity, and humidity), a voice-operated smart speaker, and an internet protocol (IP) video camera. RESULTS We recruited a total of 37 older adults for this study, with 35 (95%) successfully completing all procedures in the 2-month study. The average age of the sample was 78 (SD 9) years and primarily comprised women (29/37, 78%), those who were educated (31/37, 86%; bachelor’s degree or higher), and those affected by chronic conditions (33/37, 89%). The most widely chosen devices among the participants were multipurpose sensors and smart speakers. An IP camera was a significantly unpopular choice among participants in both phases. The participant feedback suggests that perceived privacy concerns, perceived usefulness, and curiosity to technology were strong factors when considering which device to have installed in their home. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our deployment results revealed that the use of IoT smart home devices is feasible in actual residences of older adults. These findings may inform the follow-up assessment of IoT technologies and their impact on health-related outcomes and advance our understanding of the role of IoT home-based monitoring technologies to promote successful aging-in-place for older adults. Future trials should consider older adults’ preferences for the different types of smart home devices to be installed in real-world residential settings.

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