Background
As the population of older adults grows, more people are living alone (Botia, Villa & Palma, 2012; McKenna, Klosek, Crilly & Polger, 2015; Fraisse, Perolle, Mavros & Etxeberria, 2007). In the US, the trend of living alone amongst older people has increased dramatically from 5% in 1920s to 28% in 2012 (Administration on Aging, 2012). With advancing age, various age-related conditions and accidents come along such as a fall (Dibner, 1990; Elliot, Painter & Hudson, 2009, Lee et al., 2007; Miniño, 2007), a heart attack (Botia et al., 2012), a stroke (Chan, Estève, Fourniols, Escriba & Campo, 2012), chronic disease conditions/disabilities (Chan et al., 2012; Peek et al., 2014) and/or the chance of hospitalization, which could later transition into a move to long term care (Chan et al.,2012; Hamill, Young, Boger & Mihailidis, 2009).The severity of such incidents increases if they are not attended quickly (Botia et al., 2012; Chan et. al, 2011; Fleming & Brayne, 2008; Gurley, Lum, Sande, Lo, & Katz, 1996; Tinetti, Liu, & Claus, 1993). This led researchers and practitioners to increase their interest in technology to address the needs of the older …show more content…
As a result, Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERSs) were developed to aid older adults with chronic illnesses and disabilities to live independently (Fallis, Silverthorne, Franklin, McClement, 2007; Gatzoulis & Lakovidis, 2007; Mann, Ottenbacber, Fraas, Tomita & Granger, 1999), help older adults quickly secure assistance during emergencies and significantly reduced mortality rates (Berstein, 2000; Gurley
As the population of older adults grows, more people are living alone (Botia, Villa & Palma, 2012; McKenna, Klosek, Crilly & Polger, 2015; Fraisse, Perolle, Mavros & Etxeberria, 2007). In the US, the trend of living alone amongst older people has increased dramatically from 5% in 1920s to 28% in 2012 (Administration on Aging, 2012). With advancing age, various age-related conditions and accidents come along such as a fall (Dibner, 1990; Elliot, Painter & Hudson, 2009, Lee et al., 2007; Miniño, 2007), a heart attack (Botia et al., 2012), a stroke (Chan, Estève, Fourniols, Escriba & Campo, 2012), chronic disease conditions/disabilities (Chan et al., 2012; Peek et al., 2014) and/or the chance of hospitalization, which could later transition into a move to long term care (Chan et al.,2012; Hamill, Young, Boger & Mihailidis, 2009).The severity of such incidents increases if they are not attended quickly (Botia et al., 2012; Chan et. al, 2011; Fleming & Brayne, 2008; Gurley, Lum, Sande, Lo, & Katz, 1996; Tinetti, Liu, & Claus, 1993). This led researchers and practitioners to increase their interest in technology to address the needs of the older …show more content…
As a result, Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERSs) were developed to aid older adults with chronic illnesses and disabilities to live independently (Fallis, Silverthorne, Franklin, McClement, 2007; Gatzoulis & Lakovidis, 2007; Mann, Ottenbacber, Fraas, Tomita & Granger, 1999), help older adults quickly secure assistance during emergencies and significantly reduced mortality rates (Berstein, 2000; Gurley