Gerontechnology: Technological Solutions for Sustainable Long-Term Care

Abstract

The rapid demographic aging brings with it various challenges in areas such as health, care, safety, isolation and disability. Finding solutions to this situation requires political, economic and social planning to ensure sustainability and support the well-being and quality of long term care. In the contemporary context, gerontechnological solutions are emerging as important tools for solving the social problems of rapid aging. Gerontechnology combines technology, design and gerontology, aiming to design technologies and environments that provide comfort and safety for older adults. The aim of this article is to discuss the development of gerontechnology and the opportunities it offers for ensuring the sustainability of long-term care. Methodologically, this study is a review study. The article begins by providing a comprehensive overview of the emergence and evolution of the concept of gerontechnology, which has led to a contemporary critical transformation in academia. Then, starting from the concept of digital transformation within the scope of gerontechnology, the article presents a detailed examination of older adults' attitudes towards gerontechnological products. In conclusion, gerontechnology has the potential to support older adults' independence and improve their quality of life.

Keywords

• Gerontology
• technology
• aging
• care
• aging in place

Geronteknoloji: Sürdürülebilir Uzun Dönem Bakım için Teknolojik Çözümler

Abstract

Demografik yaşlanmanın hızla gerçekleşmesi sağlık, bakım, güvenlik, izolasyon, engellilik gibi alanlarda çeşitli zorlukları da beraberinde getirmektedir. Bu duruma çözüm bulmak, sürdürülebilirliği sağlamak, yaşlıların refahını ve bakım kalitesini desteklemek için politik, ekonomik ve sosyal planlamayı gerektirmektedir. Çağdaş bağlamda geronteknolojik çözümler, hızlı yaşlanmanın getirdiği toplumsal sorunların çözümünde önemli araçlar olarak ortaya çıkmaktadır. Geronteknoloji, yaşlı yetişkinler için konfor ve güvenlik sağlayacak teknolojiler ve ortamlar tasarlamayı amaçlayarak teknoloji, tasarım ve gerontolojiyi birleştirmektedir. Bu makalenin amacı geronteknoloji bilimin gelişimini ve uzun dönem bakımın sürdürülebilirliğinin sağlanması açısından sunduğu imkanları tartışmaktır. Yöntem olarak bu çalışma bir derleme çalışması niteliğindedir. Bu makale, akademide çağdaş eleştirel dönüşüme yol açan geronteknoloji kavramının ortaya çıkışı ve evrimine kapsamlı bir genel bakış sunarak başlamaktadır. Daha sonra geronteknoloji kapsamında dijital dönüşüm kavramından yola çıkarak yaşlı yetişkinlerin geronteknolojik ürünlere yönelik tutumları dikkate alınarak makale ayrıntılı bir inceleme sunmaktadır. Sonuç olarak geronteknoloji yaşlı yetişkinlerin bağımsızlığını destekleme ve yaşam kalitesini iyileştirme potansiyeline sahiptir.

Keywords

• Gerontoloji
• teknoloji
• yaşlanma
• bakım
• yerinde yaşlanma

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