Assessment of the Elderly on Perceived Needs, Benefits and Barriers: Inputs for the Design of Intelligent Assistive Technology

An increasing elderly population presents challenges and issues on elderly care and support. Assistive Technologies is one of the alternatives to address the growing care needs among the elderly. Beyond technological aspects, the needs, benefits, and barriers play a vital role in the successful use of assistive technologies, which account on this situation, is relatively unexplored in the Philippines. This study attempts to provide an initial understanding of the perceived needs, benefits and barriers to assistive technologies, through a survey among the elderly in the Philippines. Results from the survey indicate that elderly respondents positively perceived the needs of assistive technologies for emergencies, daily activity and health monitoring, navigation, and communication with family and peers. Moreover, the elderly respondents notably perceived benefits from assistive technologies usage includes support for daily activities, assistance in an emergency, increase safety, social interaction, and improve health condition. However, the results also indicate that cost, fear of dependence, need for assistance, privacy and security, and control and autonomy as barriers in the assistive technologies usage. The results of this study will be used as input in a current project of designing an intelligent assistive technology for elderly in the Philippines. Therefore, this study extends understanding on elderly perspectives on assistive technologies in a developing country perspective. Implications for theory and practice are presented.