Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
THE JOURNAL OF ADULT PROTECTION, cilt.27, sa.5, ss.1-17, 2025 (ESCI)
Purpose: This study aims to explore in depth the perceptions, attitudes, and experiences of older adults residing in an institutional care facility regarding digital care technologies. Based on these findings, it seeks to develop age-sensitive, privacy-oriented, and user-centered digital care policies.
Design/methodology/approach: A total of 43 participants were selected through purposive sampling from a professional elderly care center located in Narlidere, Izmir. Participants were introduced to IoT-based digital care systems through visual scenarios designed to simulate real-life situations. Data were collected via semi-structured, tablet-assisted personal interviews (TAPI). In addition to thematic analysis, natural language processing (NLP) techniques-including sentiment analysis, TF-IDF, topic modeling (LDA), and concept network mapping-were employed.
Findings: Participants evaluated digital technologies not only in terms of functional benefits but also through values such as privacy, emotional security, and social interaction. While fall sensors and emergency alert systems received high acceptance, camera-based surveillance applications were largely rejected due to concerns about privacy violations and emotional discomfort. Acceptance levels varied according to participants’ demographic characteristics such as age, gender, and educational background. The findings underscore the need to develop context-sensitive and ethically grounded digital care policies informed by users’ lived experiences.
Originality: This study presents a comprehensive analysis that integrates individual experiences of digital aging with spatial and emotional contexts, enriched through NLP techniques. By developing policy recommendations based on the preferences of older adults in institutional care settings, it addresses a critical gap in the literature and proposes culturally adaptable, rights-based strategies for digital care in Turkiye.
Keywords: Elder care services, spatial perception, gerontechnology, natural language processing (NLP), safeguarding, digital care policies