Sustainable Technologies for Older Adults

Jorge Morato, Sonia Sanchez-Cuadrado, Ana Iglesias, Adrián Campillo and Carmen Fernández-Panadero
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Jorge Morato: Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Leganés, Spain
Sonia Sanchez-Cuadrado: Department of Library and Information Science, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28010 Madrid, Spain
Ana Iglesias: Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Leganés, Spain
Adrián Campillo: Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Leganés, Spain
Carmen Fernández-Panadero: Department of Telematic Engineering, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Leganés, Spain

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 15, 1-35

Abstract: The exponential evolution of technology and the growth of the elderly population are two phenomena that will inevitably interact with increasing frequency in the future. This paper analyses scientific literature as a means of furthering progress in sustainable technology for senior living. We carried out a bibliometric analysis of papers published in this area and compiled by the Web of Science (WOS) and Scopus, examining the main participants and advances in the field from 2000 to the first quarter of 2021. The study describes some interesting research projects addressing three different aspects of older adults’ daily lives—health, daily activities and wellbeing—and policies to promote healthy aging and improve the sustainability of the healthcare system. It also looks at lines of research into transversal characteristics of technology. Our analysis showed that publications mentioning sustainability technologies for older adults have been growing progressively since the 2000s, but that the big increase in the number of research works in this area took place during the period 2016–2021. These more recent works show a tendency to study those factors that improve healthy aging, ensure the social inclusion of the elderly through technology and prolong the time in which they can live independent lives thanks to smart environments. Current research gaps in the literature are also discussed.

Keywords: older adults; sustainability; technology; readability; Internet of Things; sustainable development goals; smart cities; robotics; gerontology; health care (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:15:p:8465-:d:603868

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