Stuck in the Present: A Human Lack of Ability to Visualise (Different) Needs in the Future May Hamper Timely Implementation of AAL and Supportive Technology

Ulrike Bechtold, Natalie Stauder, Martin Fieder and Harald Wilfing
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Ulrike Bechtold: Institute of Technology Assessment, Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1010 Vienna, Austria
Natalie Stauder: Human Ecology Research Group, Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
Martin Fieder: Human Ecology Research Group, Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
Harald Wilfing: Human Ecology Research Group, Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: Cities face an evident demographic change, making assistive technologies (AAL) an interesting choice to support older adults to autonomously age in place. Yet, supportive technologies are not as widely spread as one would expect. Hence, we investigate the surroundings of older adults living in Vienna and analyse their “socio relational setup”, considering their social integration and psychophysical state compared to others (health, fitness, activeness, contentedness). Method: Our data included 245 older adults (age: M = 74, SD = 6654) living in their own homes (2018–2020 with different grades of needing support). We calculated univariate and multivariate models regressing the socio-relational setup on the change of routines, technology attitude, mobility aid use, internet use, subjective age, openness to move to an institutional care facility in the future, and other confounding variables. Results: We found a strong correlation between all categories (health, fitness, activeness, contentedness) of older adults comparing themselves to their peers. Among others, they are significantly related to institutional care openness, which implies that participants who felt fitter and more active than their peers were less clear in visualising their future: unpleasant circumstances of ageing are suppressed if the current life circumstances are perceived as good. This is an example of cognitive dissonance.

Keywords: ageing in place; active assistive living (AAL); assistive technologies; older adults’ surroundings; socio-relational setup; imagining future needs; getting older in a city; demographic change; life course perspective; policy measures for better living (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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