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er needs and perspectives on technologies or healthy ageing
Mateja Erce 1, Rok Ovsenik 3, Dean Lipovac 1,2, Michael Burnard 1,2
1. InnoRenew CoE, Livade 6, 6310 Izola, Slovenia, mateja.erce@innorenew.eu, dean.lipovac@innorenew.eu,
mike.burnard@innorenew.eu
2. Andrej Marušič Institute, University of Primorska, Muzejski trg 2, 6000 Koper, Slovenia
3. Dom upokojencev Izola, Kosovelova ulica 22, 6310 Izola, Slovenia, rok.ovsenik@dui-izola.si
Older adults are the most vulnerable and fastest-growing age group in Europe. Ageing introduces
psychosocial and physical challenges that should be addressed (ten Bruggencate et al., 2019; Zallio and
Berry, 2016). WHO views Healthy Ageing as a solution to these challenges, and considers older adults to
be active participants in managing their health and well-being.
The paradigm involves them in defining their needs, which is important to increase the older adults’
connectedness, meaningfulness, and independence (ten Bruggencate et al., 2019). Their health, well-
being and social isolation can be improved with health-related technologies and building solutions (Zallio
and Berry, 2016). However, a lot of older adults are not willing to use or adopt smart technologies (Zallio
and Berry, 2016) due to individual differences and needs, which are usually not addressed by technology
alone.
To address this knowledge gap, interviews were conducted to identify older adults’ needs and willingness
to accept and adopt technology in their life that will help them stay independent longer. The goal of the
study was to examine their physical and psychosocial needs as well as technological requirements so
these could be addressed by a combination of new and existing solutions prepared as part of the Pilots
for Healthy and Active Ageing Horizon 2020 project.
A sample of 64 older adults completed a two-part questionnaire with the support of a researcher.
The first part examined physical and psychosocial well-being by asking close-ended questions from
previously validated scales. The second part examined participants’ attitudes towards using technology
in healthcare using a modified version of the Health Care Barriers Instrument (LeRouge et al., 2014)
supported with demonstration videos of selected technologies. The results of the study demonstrate
the barriers to technology adoption and the need to involve older adults in the design and selection of
solutions they will use.
Keywords: older adults, building solutions, technology acceptance, well-being, independence
Acknowledgement
The authors gratefully acknowledge the European Commission for funding the Horizon2020 projects,
Pilots for Healthy and Active Ageing (GA# 857188) and InnoRenew (GA# 739574).
References
LeRouge, C., Van Slyke, C., Seale, D., Wright, K., 2014. Baby Boomers’ adoption of consumer health technologies:
Survey on readiness and barriers. J. Med. Internet Res. 16. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.3049
ten Bruggencate, T., Luijkx, K.G., Sturm, J., 2019. To meet, to matter, and to have fun: The development, implementation,
and evaluation of an intervention to fulfil the social needs of older people. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 16,
1–13. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16132307
Zallio, M., Berry, D., 2016. Adaptive Environments for Enabling Senior Citizens : 419–424.
HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE RENOVATION WITH RENEWABLE MATERIALS
23
Mateja Erce 1, Rok Ovsenik 3, Dean Lipovac 1,2, Michael Burnard 1,2
1. InnoRenew CoE, Livade 6, 6310 Izola, Slovenia, mateja.erce@innorenew.eu, dean.lipovac@innorenew.eu,
mike.burnard@innorenew.eu
2. Andrej Marušič Institute, University of Primorska, Muzejski trg 2, 6000 Koper, Slovenia
3. Dom upokojencev Izola, Kosovelova ulica 22, 6310 Izola, Slovenia, rok.ovsenik@dui-izola.si
Older adults are the most vulnerable and fastest-growing age group in Europe. Ageing introduces
psychosocial and physical challenges that should be addressed (ten Bruggencate et al., 2019; Zallio and
Berry, 2016). WHO views Healthy Ageing as a solution to these challenges, and considers older adults to
be active participants in managing their health and well-being.
The paradigm involves them in defining their needs, which is important to increase the older adults’
connectedness, meaningfulness, and independence (ten Bruggencate et al., 2019). Their health, well-
being and social isolation can be improved with health-related technologies and building solutions (Zallio
and Berry, 2016). However, a lot of older adults are not willing to use or adopt smart technologies (Zallio
and Berry, 2016) due to individual differences and needs, which are usually not addressed by technology
alone.
To address this knowledge gap, interviews were conducted to identify older adults’ needs and willingness
to accept and adopt technology in their life that will help them stay independent longer. The goal of the
study was to examine their physical and psychosocial needs as well as technological requirements so
these could be addressed by a combination of new and existing solutions prepared as part of the Pilots
for Healthy and Active Ageing Horizon 2020 project.
A sample of 64 older adults completed a two-part questionnaire with the support of a researcher.
The first part examined physical and psychosocial well-being by asking close-ended questions from
previously validated scales. The second part examined participants’ attitudes towards using technology
in healthcare using a modified version of the Health Care Barriers Instrument (LeRouge et al., 2014)
supported with demonstration videos of selected technologies. The results of the study demonstrate
the barriers to technology adoption and the need to involve older adults in the design and selection of
solutions they will use.
Keywords: older adults, building solutions, technology acceptance, well-being, independence
Acknowledgement
The authors gratefully acknowledge the European Commission for funding the Horizon2020 projects,
Pilots for Healthy and Active Ageing (GA# 857188) and InnoRenew (GA# 739574).
References
LeRouge, C., Van Slyke, C., Seale, D., Wright, K., 2014. Baby Boomers’ adoption of consumer health technologies:
Survey on readiness and barriers. J. Med. Internet Res. 16. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.3049
ten Bruggencate, T., Luijkx, K.G., Sturm, J., 2019. To meet, to matter, and to have fun: The development, implementation,
and evaluation of an intervention to fulfil the social needs of older people. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 16,
1–13. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16132307
Zallio, M., Berry, D., 2016. Adaptive Environments for Enabling Senior Citizens : 419–424.
HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE RENOVATION WITH RENEWABLE MATERIALS
23
