Attitudes and beliefs regarding future municipal eldercare needs: health and welfare technology or whom do I want support from when I need it?

Abstrakt

Introduction Our eldercare is undergoing a digital transformation, giving older adults new ways of receiving support. This study examined residents’ attitudes and beliefs about the future municipal provision of eldercare, focusing on the role of Health and Welfare Technology (HWT) in meeting these needs, using Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Methods A total of 979 residents aged 18–30, 31–64, and 65–84 years in Eskilstuna, Sweden, who responded to a survey 2024 about their attitudes toward eldercare in 2039, were included. The survey covered views on independence, use of HWT and sociodemographic factors. Descriptive methods and Pearson’s chi-square tests were used to describe independence, including variations in attitudes toward HWT by age and education level. Results Almost all respondents (96%) considered independence to be important, and a majority positive about the on-going digital transformation. More than half were open to receiving future municipal support via HWT. However, acceptance of HWT varied: those aged 65–84 were less positive (57%) compared to those aged 31–64 (65%). Still, about 30% of the oldest group preferred support by HWT for personal hygiene and night supervision. The attitudes also varied by educational level. Respondents with lower education were less supportive of HWT (49%) compared to those with higher education (65%). Nevertheless, 24–32% of those with lower education preferred HWT for personal hygiene and night supervision. Perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use may be important for positive attitudes to HWT, as proposed in TAM. Conclusion In summary, older adults and those with lower educational level had less positive attitudes towards future eldercare that may be provided by HWT, compared with middle-aged respondents and those with higher education. Although frailty was not assessed in this study, the findings may be relevant to frailty prevention because HWT may support independence, safety and functional ability in later life.