Soubutts, Ewan

English

This thesis responds to the aging population crisis specifically within the UK, which sees the older adults increasing in proportion to other demographics. Consumer smart home technology on the market is diverse, from sensor systems, voice assistants, self-tracking devices, to smart watches and interconnected heat and lighting systems. However, previous research has identified that there are misalignments between older adults’ needs, and the potential of digital technologies to support aging in the home; especially with others. Many smart home technologies designed to provide care are co-opted by residents of different generations for purposes other than care, e.g. play with children, or caregivers’ own social and recreational activities. Yet it is of interest to investigate the shared care practises taking place when using smart home technology together. This thesis begins with the aim of identifying shared experiences and practises that take place in the home that support quality of life for older adults using home healthcare technologies. Drawing on a qualitative methodology through three technology deployment studies (stairlifts, voice assistants and sensor systems), this thesis provides several empirical contributions. Firstly, shared care practises, challenges and barriers to understanding smart home systems are understood. Diverse intents, needs and technology requirements from residents are shown here that enable aging in place together with bespoke human support mechanisms. Then, accounts of people’s emotional journeys, felt and lived experiences of using home healthcare technology are provided. Accounts also show how the technology is avoided, not used, struggled with and misunderstood, as much as it positively supports care interactions. Lastly, unique care networks (the multi-resident home) are described through participants’ shared experiences around their technology. These experiences go beyond self-care practises and identify how less obvious actors (visitors, technology suppliers and installers) become integral to delivering shared care in the home with smart home devices. This thesis proposes a range of outcomes including how emotionally supportive technology journeys must be tailored and nuanced to support multi-generational households, how older adults living together benefit from shared care activities through voice assistants and how labour can be reduced by continuous support of shared interactions for complex smart home health systems

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Aging in place together:journeys towards adoption and acceptance of smart home healthcare technology

https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/files/370913269/Final_Copy_2023_03_21_Soubutts_E_PhD.pdf

Aging in place together:journeys towards adoption and acceptance of smart home healthcare technology

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