The Acceptability of Assistance Technology to Older People

Assistive technology (AT) is defined in this paper as "any device or system that allows an individual to perform a task that they would otherwise be unable to do, or increases the ease & safety with which the task can be performed" (Cowan & Turner-Smith 1999). Its importance in contributing to older people's independence & autonomy is increasingly recognised, but there has been little research into the viability of extensive installations of AT. This paper focuses on the acceptability of AT to older people, & reports one component of a multi-disciplinary research project that examined the feasibility, acceptability, costs & outcomes of introducing AT into their homes. Sixty-seven people aged 70 or more years were interviewed in-depth during 2001 to find out about their use & experience of a wide range of assistive technologies. The findings suggest a complex model of acceptability, in which a "felt need" for assistance combines with "product quality". The paper concludes by considering the tensions that may arise in the delivery of acceptable assistive technology. 3 Tables, 1 Figure, 55 References. Adapted from the source document.