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Technologies Supporting Engagement in Everyday Activities in Later Life

Galanza, William Son LU (2025) In Lund University, Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series
Abstract
The global demographic is experiencing a significant increase in the ageing population, and
simultaneously, technological advancements continue to reshape society. These trends highlight an
urgent need and a unique opportunity to leverage technology. Smart home technology (SHT), welfare
technology (WT), and wearable sensors can potentially support older adults in everyday activities.
However, the development and research of such technologies is less focused on the needs and desires
of older adults, which hinders adoption. Older adults need to be included in the broader process of
technological development to ensure that innovations are relevant to their interests and independence,
as well as to promote inclusion... (More)
The global demographic is experiencing a significant increase in the ageing population, and
simultaneously, technological advancements continue to reshape society. These trends highlight an
urgent need and a unique opportunity to leverage technology. Smart home technology (SHT), welfare
technology (WT), and wearable sensors can potentially support older adults in everyday activities.
However, the development and research of such technologies is less focused on the needs and desires
of older adults, which hinders adoption. Older adults need to be included in the broader process of
technological development to ensure that innovations are relevant to their interests and independence,
as well as to promote inclusion in an increasingly technology-oriented society.
This thesis employs a multi-method approach. We conducted a focus group in the first study aimed to
examine factors that shape decision-making around adopting SHT among current and future generations
of older adults. In the second study, we used a research circle process to elicit perspectives from
members of current and future generations of older adults, professionals with expertise in SHT, and
health science researchers. Co-produced prioritised ideas on SHT solutions that better match the needs
and desires of older adults in supporting engagement in everyday activities were generated. We
proceeded with a national survey for the third study. With the survey data, we investigated the relationship
between various forms of WT user experiences and engagement in everyday activities. Finally, in the
fourth study, we utilised a wearable sensor to collect data and develop a method to recognise everyday
activities using deep learning models. This method can then be developed for monitoring purposes to
potentially provide early detection of risks and optimise care to support independence among older
adults.
The results of all four studies reveal the need for technological development that aligns with the needs,
preferences, and lived experiences of older adults to better support engagement in everyday activities.
The value and adoption rate of SHT, WT, and wearable sensors depend on a deeper understanding of
how these technologies intersect with the complexity of everyday activities of older adults. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Professor Bier, Nathalie, University of Montreal, Canada
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Older adults, quality of life, independence, gerontechnology, solutions, user, adoption, co-production, experiences, everyday activity patterns, artificial intelligence
in
Lund University, Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series
issue
2025:131
pages
118 pages
publisher
Lund University, Faculty of Medicine
defense location
Belfragesalen, BMC D15, Klinikgatan 32 i Lund. Join by Zoom: https://lu-se.zoom.us/j/66950267931
defense date
2025-11-27 13:00:00
ISSN
1652-8220
ISBN
978-91-8021-784-2
project
AGE- TECH: Technologies supporting engagement in everyday activities in and out of the home while ageing.
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6d6f4c22-a17f-473d-b584-bbfa9bcb793d
date added to LUP
2025-10-29 11:53:00
date last changed
2025-10-31 10:10:00
@phdthesis{6d6f4c22-a17f-473d-b584-bbfa9bcb793d,
  abstract     = {{The global demographic is experiencing a significant increase in the ageing population, and<br/>simultaneously, technological advancements continue to reshape society. These trends highlight an<br/>urgent need and a unique opportunity to leverage technology. Smart home technology (SHT), welfare<br/>technology (WT), and wearable sensors can potentially support older adults in everyday activities.<br/>However, the development and research of such technologies is less focused on the needs and desires<br/>of older adults, which hinders adoption. Older adults need to be included in the broader process of<br/>technological development to ensure that innovations are relevant to their interests and independence,<br/>as well as to promote inclusion in an increasingly technology-oriented society.<br/>This thesis employs a multi-method approach. We conducted a focus group in the first study aimed to<br/>examine factors that shape decision-making around adopting SHT among current and future generations<br/>of older adults. In the second study, we used a research circle process to elicit perspectives from<br/>members of current and future generations of older adults, professionals with expertise in SHT, and<br/>health science researchers. Co-produced prioritised ideas on SHT solutions that better match the needs<br/>and desires of older adults in supporting engagement in everyday activities were generated. We<br/>proceeded with a national survey for the third study. With the survey data, we investigated the relationship<br/>between various forms of WT user experiences and engagement in everyday activities. Finally, in the<br/>fourth study, we utilised a wearable sensor to collect data and develop a method to recognise everyday<br/>activities using deep learning models. This method can then be developed for monitoring purposes to<br/>potentially provide early detection of risks and optimise care to support independence among older<br/>adults.<br/>The results of all four studies reveal the need for technological development that aligns with the needs,<br/>preferences, and lived experiences of older adults to better support engagement in everyday activities.<br/>The value and adoption rate of SHT, WT, and wearable sensors depend on a deeper understanding of<br/>how these technologies intersect with the complexity of everyday activities of older adults.}},
  author       = {{Galanza, William Son}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-8021-784-2}},
  issn         = {{1652-8220}},
  keywords     = {{Older adults, quality of life, independence, gerontechnology, solutions, user, adoption, co-production, experiences, everyday activity patterns, artificial intelligence}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2025:131}},
  publisher    = {{Lund University, Faculty of Medicine}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  series       = {{Lund University, Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series}},
  title        = {{Technologies Supporting Engagement in Everyday Activities in Later Life}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/231817202/William_Son_Galanza_-_WEB.pdf}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}