The Positive and Negative Impact of an Intergenerational Digital Technology Education Programme on Younger People's Perceptions of Older Adults

In order to meet the technological needs of older adults, and ensure digital inclusion, it is important for digital technology designers to accurately assess and understand older adults’ needs and requirements, free from the influence of societal assumptions of their capabilities. This study evaluated the impact of an intergenerational digital technology education programme on younger adults’ stereotypes of older people. Using an experimental design, results show that compared to a control group, students taking part in the programme subsequently rated older adults as more friendly but less competent. Practical implications for developing intergenerational education programmes are discussed

How to guide the use of technology for ageing-in-place:An evidence-based educational module

Technology is suggested to support ageing-in-place. For careand technology professionals working with older persons it is important to know how to facilitate the use of technology by older persons. This paper presents the translation of the results of a field study into multilevel and multidisciplinary educational material. During home visits, community-dwelling seniors were interviewed regarding reasons for their level of technology use. All types of technology that could support activities of daily living, were included. Resulting themes formed the basis of the development of personas and scripts for education. Next, lecturers from vocational and higher technical and care education developed an evidence-based educational module from the perspective of professional service provision. 53 older adults were interviewed. The level of technology use is influenced by six themes: challenges in the domain of independent living; behavioural options; personal thoughts on technology use; influence of the social network; influence of organisations; and the role of the physical environment. Four personas were developed, one of which was featured into a film, with twelve separate scenes. For each scene, lessons were developed that consisted of specific questions (first level), in-depth questions (second level) and suggestions for classes (for lecturers). Three personas were translated into case histories. Older adults’ perceptions and use of technology are embedded in their personal, social, and physical context. To improve successful technology use to support ageing-in-place, professionals from the domain of care and technology can be trained to be aware of these factors

The essential elements for a nursing home according to stakeholders from healthcare and technology: perspectives from multiple simultaneous monodisciplinary workshops

Technology and architectural solutions are needed as a means of support in future nursing homes. This study investigated how various monodisciplinary groups of stakeholders from healthcare and technology envision the nursing home of the future and which elements are necessary for its creation. Moreover, differences in needs and interests between the various stakeholders were considered. This qualitative study gathered data via 10 simultaneous sticky note brainstorm sessions with 95 professional stakeholders, which resulted in 1459 quotes in five categories that were clustered into themes and processed into word clouds. The stakeholders prioritized the needs of the resident and placed the most importance on the fact that a nursing home is primarily a place to live in the final stages of one's life. A mix of factors related to the quality of care and the quality of the built environment and technology is needed. Given the fact that there are differences in what monodisciplinary groups of stakeholders see as an ideal nursing home, multidisciplinary approaches should be pursued in practice to incorporate as many new views and stakeholder needs as possible

Technological and architectural solutions for Dutch nursing homes:Results of a multidisciplinary mind mapping session with professional stakeholders

AbstractThere is an increasing call in society for the improvement of well-being for nursing home residents and the support of care professionals through a wide array of architectural and technological solutions that are available in modern nursing homes. This study investigated which of these solutions are considered essential by stakeholders from healthcare and technology. Data were gathered via 22 simultaneously held multidisciplinary mind map sessions with 97 stakeholders, resulting in 43 mind maps. These, in turn, were grouped into a single mind map of the nursing home in general, the private rooms for residents with somatic or psychogeriatric health problems, and the group living room. A prioritization of solutions was added. The contents of the mind maps reflect a Dutch consensus on the necessary architectural and technological features for the design of nursing homes