Attitudes and Perceptions Toward Healthcare Technology Adoption Among Older Adults in Singapore: A Qualitative Study

Smart Nation is a key initiative of Singapore to move toward digitalization of its industries including healthcare. The complex negotiations of aging amid Smart Nation are addressed in this paper, where we study the challenges faced to adapt the elderly for the digital revolution while ensuring dignified aging. While the healthcare industry accelerates its study and use of health technologies to improve diagnostics, treatment, and the quality of life of those in the aging category, the elderly socially construct these technological insertions that challenge the dominant understandings of what these technologies can do for their health outcomes. The study reveals re-constructions of these technological insertions through the voice of the elderly in their negotiations with health technologies in their everyday lives. Here, narratives reveal key themes that proliferate technology negotiation as barriers to everyday lived experiences.

Automated summary

This paper discusses the challenges faced by the elderly in adapting to the digital revolution under the Smart Nation initiative, while ensuring dignified aging. The study reveals how the elderly socially construct and negotiate health technologies in their everyday lives, challenging dominant understandings and reconstructing technological insertions. Key themes in technology negotiation as barriers to everyday lived experiences are revealed through narratives.