There is a growing trend among elderly people to live alone and this trend is expected to increase in the future. Social isolation and limited support can have a negative impact on the physical and mental well-being of older adults. The increasing life expectancy and expanding geriatric population necessitate the development of innovative solutions to support their health, independence, and autonomy. This article addresses the key challenges and issues confronting the elderly and analyzes various IoT technologies and solutions proposed to enhance their lives. Smart home technologies improve the quality of life and enable older adults to live independently in their own homes while their adult children are at work. This article presents a smart home model for the elderly in Kazakhstan, based on their needs, concerns, and financial capabilities. The proposed prototype will be developed using an accessible, open-source intelligent system that includes health monitoring, medication adherence monitoring, alerting family members in case of falls or deteriorating health indicators, and video surveillance. Another advantage of this system is the automation of processes such as automatic lighting control, voice command functionality, home security, and climate control. Preliminary testing of the hardware model shows promising results, with plans for continuous improvement and evaluation as it is deployed. Key criteria for its implementation include affordability, accessibility, and feasibility. Based on Kazakhstan’s unique socio-cultural and economic context, this paper proposes a sophisticated smart home model tailored to the specific needs and financial capabilities of elderly Kazakhs.
This research aimed to 1) evaluate the demographic characteristics, economic, social, and environmental conditions, and characteristics of the senior people in Ranong province, 2) discover the most relevant work characteristic factors for the older persons, and 3) propose appropriate work characteristics model for older people to improve quality of life. This mixed-methods research, for the quantitative part, utilizes the techniques of MRA & CFA with a sample size of 378 individuals, and for the qualitative part, utilizes a documentary study, in-depth interviews with 19 key informants, and a focus group of 17 individuals. The quantitative data were analyzed using a statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS), and content and categorization analysis with a triangulation verification were used for qualitative data. The results showed that: 1) Ranong province is blessed with rich resources, having minerals that can generate income for the province, life-long learning is given priority in senior school to enhance knowledge and necessary life skills, 2) from the regression analysis, the six predicted work characteristic factors; physical, emotional, autonomous, resistant, low-technology and safety were found relevant with statistically significant at 0.05, and the CFA consistency indices also withstood with the six dimensions above, 3) the appropriate work characteristics is articulated in the form of PEARLS model where physical, emotional, autonomous, resistant, low-technology and safety dimensions are the key.
As the aging trend intensifies, the Chinese government prioritizes technological innovation in smart elderly care services to enhance quality and efficiency, catering to the diverse needs of the elderly. This study examines the acceptance and usage behavior of smart elderly care services among elderly individuals in Xi’an, using a modified Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model that includes digital literacy as a moderating variable. Data were collected via a survey of 299 elderly individuals aged 60 and above in Xi’an. The study aims to identify factors influencing the acceptance and usage behavior of smart elderly care services and to understand how digital literacy moderates the relationship between these factors and usage behavior. Regression analysis assessed the direct effects of Performance Expectancy (PE), Effort Expectancy (EE), Social Influence (SI), and Facilitating Conditions (FC) on usage behavior. These dimensions were then integrated into a comprehensive index Service Acceptance to evaluate their overall impact on usage behavior, with behavioral intention examined as a potential mediating variable. Results indicate that EE and SI significantly impact the adoption of smart elderly care services, whereas PE and FC do not. Behavioral intention mediates the relationship between these variables and usage behavior. Additionally, gender, age, and digital literacy significantly moderate the impact of service acceptance on usage behavior. This study provides valuable theoretical and practical insights for designing and promoting smart elderly care services, emphasizing the importance of usability and social promotion to enhance the quality of life for the elderly.
The rapid increase in the aging population has raised significant concerns about the living conditions and well-being of elderly residents in old communities. This study addresses these concerns by proposing a Sustainable Urban Renovation Assessment Model (SURAM) specifically designed to enhance elderly-friendly environments in Chongqing City. The model encompasses multiple dimensions, including the comfort of public facilities, service safety and convenience, medical travel services, infrastructure security, life service convenience, neighbor relations, ambulance aid accessibility, commercial service facilities, privacy protection, elderly care facilities and service supply, and medical and health facilities. By employing factor analysis, the study reduces the dimensionality of the 49 indicator factors, allowing for a more focused and comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of aging-friendly renovation efforts. The main factors identified in the proposed model include community infrastructure security, elderly comfort of community public facilities, completeness and convenience of surrounding living services, and security and convenience of elderly care services. The results reveal that the age-appropriate comfort of public facilities plays a significant role in achieving successful aging-appropriate renovation outcomes. The findings demonstrate that by addressing specific needs such as safety, accessibility, and convenience, communities can significantly improve the quality of life for elderly residents. Moreover, the application of SURAM provides actionable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and community stakeholders, guiding them in implementing targeted initiatives for sustainable and inclusive urban development.
The subjective well-being (SWB) concept specific to the elderly Orang Asli is still vague, with limited research. Understanding SWB can give a holistic picture of elderly Orang Asli’s well-being status because SWB considers individual evaluations and perspectives based on life experiences in various dimensions relevant to the elderly Orang Asli’s culture, language, belief system, and lifestyle. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the concept of SWB of elderly Orang Seletar. An exploratory case study research design is implemented in this qualitative study. 15 informants who participated in an in-depth interview session in Kampung Bakar Batu Perling, Johor Bahru, and aged 50 years old and above. Based on the findings of the study, there were seven major themes in discussing the concept of SWB which are (i) sufficiency; (ii) comfort; (iii) satisfaction; (iv) preference/favorite; (v) happiness; (vi) tranquillity and (vii) awareness. The finding of the study shows that there were eight domains of SWB of elderly Orang Asli Seletar which are (i) physical health; (ii) mental health; (iii) family and community; (iv) sea and nature; (v) culture preservation; (vi) basic needs; (vii) education; and (viii) spiritual. In conclusion, SWB should be the core element to determine the development of elderly Orang Seletar to ensure their thrive. From mainstream society’s eye, elderly Orang Seletar’s lives may be seen as inadequate and modest. However, it is different from what is felt by them.
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