A hierarchical framework for addressing innovation resistance to ICT adoption in older adults: A case study of safety alarm systems

Aging in place, the concept of older individuals living independently within their communities, is gaining importance as the global population aged over 65 rises. Technology, particularly information and communication technology (ICT), plays a crucial role in supporting aging in place by enhancing safety and quality of life. Given Taiwan's strong research and development sector in ICT and the prevalence of aging in place, the case study is conducted in Taiwan. Content analysis of the interviews identified 16 key barriers, which were combined with those from the literature review. To systematically address these barriers and develop strategies, the study employed the Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) methodology, which involved establishing pairwise relationships among challenges with expert input. The study included 27 expert respondents, including physicians and scholars. This study found that User's Computer Literacy, Product Operation Complexity, Network Equipment Support, and Usage Safety Consideration require immediate attention. Therefore, older adults with an early educational background in computer literacy tend to adopt ICT more successfully. This study offers a hierarchical framework for overcoming barriers to ICT adoption among the elderly, enhancing elderly safety and supporting aging in place.