An investigation on acceptance of ubiquitous devices for the elderly in a geriatric hospital Environment: Using the Example of Person Tracking

Abstract

In this study, we investigate the acceptance of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology for localizing elderly people, suffering from dementia. We discuss how, and to what extend, we can balance economic and humanistic interests versus patient privacy and other libertarian concerns. We used specifically developed questionnaires and guided interviews and investigated the opinions, attitudes and beliefs of both medical professionals and patients. For this purpose, one of the most modern equipped geriatric clinics has been examined: the Albert Schweitzer clinic of the Geriatric Center Graz. The findings showed that RFID technology provides enormous economic benefits for both medical professionals and patients, whilst at the same time; these invasive surveillance technologies threaten our patients' privacy. Most astonishing was that almost all of the people involved, were unaware of both opportunities and problems of such ubiquitous devices. Similar to many new and emerging technologies, it has the potential to both benefit and harm society. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.