Examining the Diffusion of Fall-Monitoring Gerontechnology among Older Adults for Aging-in-Place

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the diffusion of gerontechnology for fall monitoring among older adults based on the Innovation-Decision Process model, proposed by Rogers. The predictors of the first three stages—knowledge, persuasion, and decision—were examined, and variables related to older adults’ aging attitudes, relationship with technology, aging-in-place, and fall concerns were included in the model to be tested. A self-administered survey was conducted with 331 older adults. Path analysis was used to test the proposed model variables’ direct, indirect, and total effects. Overall, older adults living in the community in the southwestern USA were unaware of most of the fall-monitoring gerontechnology available in the market. However, the main path of the model (knowledge, persuasion, and decision stages) appeared to have the most significant relationships. Among the variables around the main path, technology readiness and sources of information had the highest significance in the persuasion stage.

Keywords: Falls, Monitoring, Diffusion of Innovation, Aging-in-Place, Smart Home