Abstract

A public health emergency may increase reliance on smart home technologies (SHT) to bridge health care and psychosocial support among community-dwelling older adults (CDOA). CDOA, in particular, are adversely impacted by ‘shelter-in-place’ and ‘social distancing’ orders due to limited social networks and preexisting characteristics associated with perceived barriers to SHT utilization. Using a qualitative semi-structured interview method, a study sample (n = 35) ranging in age from 65 to 99 years was interviewed to investigate the perspectives on utilizing SHT. Three main themes emerged: perceived barriers, facilitators, and preferences for SHT. Study findings suggest that SHT can mitigate adverse health effects during public health emergencies by increasing psychosocial connections with formal and informal care providers while increasing the safety and security of CDOA.