Gerontechnology

Gerontechnology is an interdisciplinary field combining gerontology and technology to improve the health, independence, and quality of life of older adults. It encompasses research, development, and deployment of technologies designed to support aging populations and enable aging in place. The field integrates insights from engineering, computer science, design, psychology, and social sciences. The term highlights the goal of enabling functional independence and safe, dignified living as people age.

Applications include assistive devices such as mobility aids and hearing or vision enhancements; home-based technologies like smart sensors, fall detectors, and emergency alert systems; telehealth and remote monitoring; medication management; wearable health monitors; cognitive aids; and service or social robots. Smart home ecosystems and mobile health tools are common platforms. The overarching aim is to maintain independence while reducing the need for formal care where possible.

Design emphasizes aging in place, universal and inclusive design, user-centered and participatory methods, and privacy-preserving data practices. Successful adoption depends on accessibility, affordability, digital literacy, and interoperability across devices. Stakeholders include older adults, caregivers, healthcare providers, and policy makers.

Challenges include the digital divide, cost barriers, data privacy and security, ethical concerns about surveillance and autonomy, and the need for solid evidence of effectiveness. Research areas span human factors, usability, health informatics, robotics, AI, and policy analysis. The field is global and evolving with demographic shifts and advances in sensors, AI, and communication networks.