The baby boom generation is the largest in U.S. history. In 2011, the first wave turned to 65 with the last baby boomers not reaching 65 until 2030. This signals unprecedented demographic changes that will last for decades. By 2030, one in every five Americans will be 65 years of age or older. The rise in the number of aging citizens will affect the social, physical and economic fabric of our nation’s cities and counties, driving the urgent need for services and supports to these older adults so they can remain an independent and good quality of life. In the meantime, the advancements in technology hold great promises to community development for the older citizens.

This planning grant brings researchers from three institutions (Arizona State University, Drexel University and University of Alabama), seven disciplines (system engineering and health informatics, community development, transportation system, computer science, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and architectural engineering) to understand the unique challenges in senior communities. Fundamental research questions from six research themes are to be studied. The six themes are: (1) community with social connection; (2) smart transportation; (3) health mentors; (4) smart homes; (5) smart sensor; and (6) data management and integration.

With strong engagements from four senior communities in Arizona including Royal Oaks, Friendship Village, Westminster Village and Vi at Silverstone, this project is to understand the challenges with potential solutions for the design and development of smart, connected and engaged senior communities. Supported by this planning grant, the team developed a survey with 33 questions related to general information and technology (8 questions), individual and community well-being (8 questions), mobility and transportation (5 questions), health information accessibility and privacy (7 questions), and smart homes (5 questions). The survey was available in both electronic (Qualtrics) and hardcopy formats. Of the 258 responses received, 241 completed the survey to near full completion levels. Two key findings from the survey analysis: (1) Loneliness and social disconnectedness differ based on the level of ICT (Information, Communication and Technology) use. Specifically, using the internet to learn about local happenings were slightly related to lower levels of loneliness and social disconnectedness from friends; however, sharing information via the internet was only marginally related to lower levels of loneliness and social disconnectedness from family. (2) Desired utilization of ride-hailing services differs based on loneliness and social disconnectedness. This suggests that loneliness cannot be broadly mitigated by the providing access to car and driver services. Practitioners should identify individuals who are lonely or socially disconnected first and then introduce that particular population to ride-sharing services. Moreover, some older adults would likely benefit from trying out such services prior to driving cessation, as some older adults qualitatively noted they might consider such services after they give up their cars.

Through this planning grant, the team believes we have gained an improved fundamental understanding of senior communities, thus have proposed solutions of using smart cyberinfrastructures and associated smart technologies to improve older adults’ physical mobility, living environment and social connectivity (in the full-scale application). The team believes our solution, going from “aging in place” to “aging well with smart technology”, will improve the overall health of our older citizens, which not only directly effects their quality of life, but broadly decreases their medical care expenses, whether provided by themselves or by the government agencies. Another broader impact from this planning grant is the educational processes developed for facilitating such highly integrated multidisciplinary research. 

Last Modified: 12/30/2019
Modified by: Teresa Wu