Perspectives of older adults, adult children and caregivers on internet of things home care technologies in China: a qualitative study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Internet of Things (IoT) home care technologies have great potential to support older adults’ everyday activities and compensate for age-related changes. This study aims to explore older adults’ preferences for IoT home care technologies and factors influencing their acceptance from different perspectives. A total of 19 participants were purposively recruited, including 12 community-dwelling and nursing home older adults (74.8 ± 8.7 years), three adult children (48.3 ± 11.9 years), and four caregivers (43.8 ± 9.4 years). Their experiences and attitudes were explored through semi-structured interviews, assessing their general opinions toward IoT home care technologies and exploring what factors may hinder or facilitate their use. Twenty-two IoT home care services were included and the interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results revealed that community-dwelling older participants preferred entertainment services, while the nursing home group preferred safety services. Eight factors affecting older adults’ acceptance of IoT home care technologies were extracted: personality traits, self-health assessment, adult children support, roommate influence, affordability, credibility, compatibility, and substitutability. The impact of generational thrifty personality, adult children’s support, and service credibility are highlighted in the Chinese cultural context. Promotion of and education on using IoT services among older adults’ and their children is recommended.