The caregivers' acceptance of elderly caring IT service

Abstract

As the population of older people is growing, elderly care issues are receiving greater attention. It is becoming increasingly difficult for older people to receive care from human labor including family members and paid caregivers because not only the number of family caregivers such as children and other relatives is decreasing, but the labor price for paid caregivers is becoming more costly. In order to reduce the concerns regarding care for the elderly, a few previous studies have suggested using Information Technology as a supporting tool for looking after older people. However, these earlier studies tended to focus on technology development rather than concentrating on user needs and factors that affect a user’s acceptance of IT as elderly care support. Thus, this study attempts to approach IT for elderly care assistance with a more market-oriented perspective by finding out which factors affect caregiver’s acceptance of IT as elderly care support. To achieve this goal, the present research was conducted using two research processes, both a qualitative and quantitative research approach. In the qualitative approach, using Focus Group Interviews, this research tries to explore the needs of caregivers when looking after their older counterparts and suggests an elderly-care IT service concept based on the revealed needs. This qualitative research process is also helpful in designing a research model and variables. In the quantitative approach, this study tries to find out which factors affect the caregivers’ acceptance of the elderly-care IT service concept. Therefore, a useful recommendation for service providers on how elderly-care IT services should be approached in the market is expected to be derived.