Use of smart devices by the elderly: Nursing home residents in Slovenia

Anze Mihelic¹, Simon Vrhovec¹⁺, Igor Bernik¹, Andrej Domej², Damjan Fujs³, Tomaž Hovelja³,
Sanja Kerznar Osolnik¹, Patrik Pucer², Damjan Vavpotič³, Boštjan Žvanut², and Kaja Prislan¹

¹University of Maribor, Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security, Ljubljana, Slovenia
{anze.mihelic, simon.vrhovec, igor.bernik, kaja.prislan}@um.si, sanja.kerznar@student.um.si

²University of Primorska, Faculty of Health Sciences, Izola, Slovenia
97170367@student.upr.si, {patrik.pucer, bostjan.zvanut}@fvz.upr.si

³University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Computer and Information Science, Ljubljana, Slovenia
{damjan.fujs, tomaz.hovelja, damjan.vavpotic}@fri.uni-lj.si

Abstract

The number and variety of smart devices aiming to assist older adults with personal and social life is increasing. However, the broader use of technology by older adults inevitably raises concerns regarding their vulnerability to cyberthreats. This study has three key objectives: (1) to identify which smart devices are available to older adults, (2) to determine which devices are used by older adults in nursing homes and (3) to conduct a preliminary analysis of exposure of older adults in nursing homes to cyberthreats due to their use of smart devices. To achieve these objectives, a systematic literature review was first conducted to identify available smart devices. Next, focus groups among caregivers in 23 nursing homes in Slovenia and interviews with nine older adults residing in two different nursing homes in Slovenia were conducted to determine which smart devices are used by older adults in nursing homes, and to preliminary analyze the exposure of older adults in nursing homes to cyberthreats. Results indicate that older adults in nursing homes mostly use only mobile and entertainment devices. The frequency of using smart devices for health and wellness is relatively low. Older adults in nursing homes are currently at particular risk during mobile device use due to human factors. Nevertheless, this may change in the near- to mid-term future as smart devices get more widely used.

Keywords: senior citizens, older adults, cybersecurity, mobile security, cyber threats, smart home, institutional care home, residential care home

+: Corresponding author: Simon Vrhovec
University of Maribor, Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security, Kotnikova 8, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia,
Tel: +386-1-3008-342

Journal of Wireless Mobile Networks, Ubiquitous Computing, and Dependable Applications (JoWUA)
Vol. 13, No. 3, pp. 68-80, September 2022 [pdf]

Received: May 31, 2022; Accepted: August 22, 2022; Published: September 30, 2022

DOI: 10.22667/JOWUA.2022.09.30.068