Will seniors use wearables?

I have long thought that one of the primary solutions for seniors being able to age in place is going to be the increased use of wearables. There is a lot of thinking that seniors are averse to this type of technology, but are they, really?

A new study from Japan sheds some light on the subject. TL;DR is basically they all view it favorably but are worried about the cost which is one reason I think not too far in the future the government is going to bear the cost of Apple Watches, Garmins or Fitbits for seniors. I think it's noteworthy so many of them viewed the Oura Ring favorably.

Three Things Elderly People Liked Most About Wearables:

1. Continuous Health Monitoring: The elderly appreciated the ability to have their health continuously monitored, particularly to detect early signs of potential health issues. One elder noted it would help them make informed decisions about when to visit a doctor.
2. Prevention of Health Condition Worsening: They were very favorable to technology that could help prevent a health condition from getting worse. The continuous monitoring was seen as a way to catch potential health problems early.
3. Ease of Use: When introduced to the Oura ring, many elderly participants perceived it as easy to use, which was critically important, especially for those with cognitive decline or living alone.

Three Things Elderly People Disliked Most About Wearables:

1. Cost Concerns: A repeated issue raised by elderly participants was the expense of wearable devices. As one elder stated, "if it is very expensive, I can't afford it".
2. Technological Complexity: Many elderly found complex technology challenging. One elder noted, "when things get so digital, it's hard for our brains to keep up with it".
3. Privacy and Invasion Concerns: Some elderly were worried about feeling watched or having their privacy invaded. There were concerns about technology potentially leading to increased loneliness and reduced personal connections.

Mika Tanaka, Shinobu Ishii, Akiko Matsuoka, Sachiko Tanabe, Shota Matsunaga, Amir Rahmani, Nikil Dutt, Mahkameh Rasouli, Adeline Nyamathi,
Perspectives of Japanese elders and their healthcare providers on use of wearable technology to monitor their health at home: A qualitative exploration,
International Journal of Nursing Studies,
Volume 152,
2024,
104691,
ISSN 0020-7489,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2024.104691.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020748924000038)