Bridging the Digital Divide in Smart Home Health Technologies for Older Adults: A Scoping Review of Barriers, Design Considerations, and Policy Implications
TL;DR
Evaluating how the digital divide affects the adoption, usability, and perceived benefits of smart home technologies designed to support activities of daily living and health monitoring found three key barriers were identified—economic, technical, and social—which disproportionately affected vulnerable groups.
Abstract
The global shift toward an aging population presents significant challenges for healthcare systems. This is compounded by rising disability rates, fragmented care models that struggle to meet complex needs, and a digital divide caused by the emergence of smart technologies. This work aims to evaluate how the digital divide affects the adoption, usability, and perceived benefits of smart home technologies designed to support activities of daily living and health monitoring. The influences of socioeconomic status and geographic location (urban versus rural) on the digital divide are considered. Four databases (Web of Science™, Scopus®, PubMed®, and IEEE Xplore®) were searched between 2014 and 2026, resulting in 71 studies that examined older adults, smart home technologies for daily living or health monitoring, and factors related to the digital divide. Findings were synthesized using the Technology Acceptance Model, Van Dijk’s Digital Divide Framework, and Health Behavior Models. Three key barriers were identified—economic, technical, and social—which disproportionately affected vulnerable groups. Smart Home Health Technologies (SH2Techs) present adoption challenges distinct from standalone devices because they require integrated infrastructure and sustained engagement. Limited research addressing the usability of non-clinical SH2Techs has identified the need for co-design, simplified interfaces, targeted training, and policy reforms to support equitable aging in place.