Evaluating Technology-Based Socialization and Monitoring Assistive Services to Enhance Active and Healthy Aging: Lessons from the Pharaon Project

Assistive technology can provide older adults with solutions that promote the connection with their families and other stakeholders as well as to ensure a sense of security and independence. In this context, this paper presents a pilot study of socialization and monitoring services tested by 30 older adults. After a short training, participants were requested to use the system in their daily life. At the beginning of the test session, questionnaires were addressed to investigate the usability, the stress related to the use of technology as well as the perceived loneliness. In this context, this paper aims to evaluate research hypotheses defined within a focus group with facilitators (i.e., formal caregivers) after a pre-validation study. The hypotheses are related to the qualitative perception of the two services from older adults as well as to the role of stress related to the use of technology. Collected results underline higher usability for the monitoring scenario rather than the socialization one. A significant correlation between the stress related to the technology and the usability score is also emerging. This study represents a promising starting point for better investigating technology-based services that can improve the quality of life of older people living alone providing them with tools that can decrease their social isolation and can enhance their monitoring.