Acceptance of Gerotechnologies by Older Women in Rural Areas

Technology has the potential—positively or negatively—to change forever the way we age in our environment. The application of technologies to aging in place must be determined with knowledge of contextual issues and individual preferences. Concerning technology, people are more or less knowledgeable, more or less skilled, more or less avoidant of learning how to engage in technological innovation, and more or less accepting of new approaches to living. Moreover, people may be required to adapt to new technologies while simultaneously coping with changes in physical, social, and cognitive resources. In order to best use technologies to support aging in place, it is essential to understand elders’ skills, attitudes, and preferences and the context in which they make decisions.