Stakeholder perspectives on in-home passive remote monitoring to support aging in place in the province of New Brunswick, Canada: A rapid qualitative analysis (Preprint)

BACKGROUND The province of New Brunswick has one of the oldest populations in Canada, providing the opportunity to develop and test innovative strategies to address the unique health challenges faced by older adults. Passive remote monitoring technology has the potential to support independent living for older adults. Limited research has examined the benefits of and barriers to adoption of this technology among community-dwelling older adults. OBJECTIVE This study explored perceptions of in-home passive remote monitoring technology designed to support aging in place from the perspective of older adults, their family/friend caregivers, social workers, and government decision-makers in the province of New Brunswick, Canada. METHODS A total of 28 one-on-one interviews were conducted in person or via telephone between October 2018 and March 2020. Participants included 2 home support services clients and 11 family/friend caregivers who had used passive remote monitoring technology in their homes, 8 social workers who worked as case managers for home support services clients, and 7 individuals who were key government decision-makers in the adoption, policy development, and/or use of the technology in the province of New Brunswick. Interviews focused on the following topics: (1) the decision to adopt the passive remote monitoring system, (2) barriers to adopting the passive remote monitoring system, (3) benefits of the passive remote monitoring system, (4) impact on client health outcomes, (5) privacy concerns, and (6) recommended changes. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed by a team of six researchers. Data analysis was done using a rapid assessment process approach that included matrix analysis. RESULTS Stakeholders were invested in meeting the home support (home care) needs of older adults. However, when it came to the use of remote monitoring, there was lack of consensus about which clients it was well-suited for, as well as the role social workers should play in informing clients and caregivers about the service. Our findings highlighted many benefits and challenges of the adoption of passive remote monitoring for clients, their family/friend caregivers, and the public provincial health and social services systems. CONCLUSIONS Passive remote monitoring is a valuable tool that can provide older adults and their family/friend caregivers support when it is a good fit with client needs. Further work is needed in New Brunswick to increase public and social worker awareness of the service and its benefits.