# The Lived Experience of Older Adults with Monitoring Technologies: An Interpretive Phenomenology Study

## TL;DR

This study explores how older adults experience using monitoring technologies, emphasizing the importance of maintaining self-identity and the need for meaningful, human-centered interventions.

## Contribution

The study introduces a pragmatic approach to understanding how older adults assign meaning to being monitored, emphasizing the role of self-identity and human interaction.

## Key findings

- Older adults use pragmatic strategies to process the meaning of life as 'monitored' individuals.
- Technologies are considered useful only if tied to meaningful interventions with a human component.
- Individualized approaches to technology based on temperament and worldview are essential for acceptance.

## Abstract

This article reviews an interpretive phenomenological study aimed at understanding the lived experience of older adults with monitoring technologies, specifically on self-identity, independence, autonomy and aging in place. We find that older adults apply a pragmatic approach to assign meaning to a monitored life. This approach reveals perspectives of older adult end users allowing better implementation of monitoring technologies that are acceptable and effective.

What are the main findings?
Older adults use pragmatic strategies to process the meaning of life as “monitored” individuals.Self-identity is maintained and technologies are considered useful only if they are tied to meaningful interventions, preferably with a human component.

Older adults use pragmatic strategies to process the meaning of life as “monitored” individuals.

Self-identity is maintained and technologies are considered useful only if they are tied to meaningful interventions, preferably with a human component.

What are the implications of the main findings?
The inclusion of older adults with dementia is not only possible, but necessary to ensure that all perspectives and end user experiences are understood.The insights gained from this research offer valuable insights to ensure that technology-assisted monitoring interventions are effective and acceptable to older adults.

The inclusion of older adults with dementia is not only possible, but necessary to ensure that all perspectives and end user experiences are understood.

The insights gained from this research offer valuable insights to ensure that technology-assisted monitoring interventions are effective and acceptable to older adults.

Background: Most older adults prefer to age in place. Technology-assisted monitoring can enhance safety while maintaining independence. However, there is limited understanding of older adult end users’ preferences and experiences. Methods: In this interpretive phenomenological study, we interviewed eight older adults, with and without dementia, to understand their lived experiences with monitoring technology and its impact on self-identity, independence, and aging-in-place. Results: We found that older adults use pragmatic strategies to process the meaning of life as “monitored” individuals, reflected in four themes: (1) freedom to age in place, (2) the need for active and integrated intervention, (3) individualized approaches to technology based on temperament, usefulness, and worldview, and (4) a sense of changing situations while remaining unchanged. Adaptive techniques for older adults with dementia successfully elicited complex thoughts and desires when participants were given sufficient time and space. Conclusions: As technology-assisted monitoring becomes more common, it is imperative to understand the perspectives of older adult end users. Focusing on lived experiences offers valuable insights to ensure technology-assisted monitoring interventions are effective and accepted as older adults navigate changes in their capabilities and endeavor to age in place.