Use and perception of gerontechnology: differences in a group of Spanish older adults

Abstract

[EN] Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand the profile of use of gerontechnology in Spanish older adults considering their age group (60–70; 71–80 and over 80 years) and to discern whether groups of subjects with similar characteristics can be established to ascertain which factors are behind the profile of frequent gerontechnology use. Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative study is presented to understand the profile of use of gerontechnology in Spanish older adults. The sample comprised 497 participants (aged between 60 and 94 years). Findings – The results show that, even though most participants consider technology to be useful in their daily lives, there is still a lack of knowledge on how to use it, especially among older subjects. This highlights the importance of promoting technological cocreation initiatives such as senior living labs. Research limitations/implications – Other researchers are encouraged to include the voices of older adults using gerontechnology in further studies. Practical implications – If we want to increase the acceptance of technology by older adults, we must first let themtake part in the design of the technologies they will use. Social implications – This research provides promising data that should merit attention to contribute to the well-being and quality of life