{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,4]],"date-time":"2026-10-04T19:43:51Z","timestamp":1791143031059,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"JMIR Publications Inc.","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JMIR Aging"],"abstract":"Abstract<\/jats:title>\n \n Background<\/jats:title>\n As people age over the coming decades, demand for in-home support and other interventions, such as home modifications, to help older adults age in place successfully, is also expected to rise. Smart home technologies have the potential to enhance aging in place by complementing traditional home modifications; however, adoption within federally funded home modification programs remains limited.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Objective<\/jats:title>\n This study explored grantees\u2019 perspectives on the Older Adults Home Modification Program (OAHMP) to understand current practices, perceived benefits, barriers, and strategies for integrating smart home technologies into home modification services.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods<\/jats:title>\n An exploratory qualitative study was conducted with staff, occupational therapists, and home builders from 3 OAHMP grantee organizations. A 1.5-hour virtual focus group was held and thematically analyzed using a deductive approach grounded in the discussion agenda.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n A total of 11 participants reported early adoption of select smart devices\u2014most commonly smart speakers, doorbell cameras, motion-activated lights, and smart plugs\u2014to enhance home safety, communication, and independence. Barriers to broader implementation emerged at three levels: (1) older adults\u2019 digital literacy, privacy concerns, and device maintenance burden; (2) contextual constraints, such as unreliable internet in rural areas; and (3) organizational limitations, including training needs, staffing capacity, and funding challenges. Participants emphasized the importance of progressive adoption, hands-on training, and low-maintenance technology. In addition, partnerships with university educational programs were well established among selected grantees to provide technology training resources for older adults. To inform a reasonable technology selection for home modifications, criteria were proposed across 5 domains: installation, usability, accessibility, sustainability, and security and privacy.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n Integrating smart home technologies into home modification programs provides a scalable, cost-effective opportunity to improve aging in place outcomes. Policy support, workforce training, valid selection criteria, and sustainable funding models are needed to promote equitable adoption across OAHMP and similar federally supported programs.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.2196\/89729","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,18]],"date-time":"2026-06-18T21:00:07Z","timestamp":1781816407000},"page":"e89729-e89729","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Smart Home Technology Integration in Home Modification Programs Serving Older Adults: Focus Group Study With Program Grantees"],"prefix":"10.2196","volume":"9","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9200-062X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Haomin","family":"Hu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-9853-6714","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Moriah","family":"Clarke","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0040-5641","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Meredith","family":"Hughes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-9157-464X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Palash","family":"Sharma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5601-4853","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jack","family":"Fried","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-7029-0573","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Portia","family":"Singh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8561-5068","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Pamela","family":"Toto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1010","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"R1","unstructured":"2023 profile of older Americans. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. URL: https:\/\/acl.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/Profile%20of%20OA\/ACL_ProfileOlderAmericans2023_508.pdf [Accessed 01-07-2026]"},{"key":"R2","unstructured":"Table S1810: disability characteristics. United States Census Bureau. URL: https:\/\/data.census.gov\/table?q=S1810 [Accessed 01-07-2026]"},{"issue":"2","key":"R3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"683","DOI":"10.1111\/jgs.18177","article-title":"Equitable implementation of innovations to promote successful aging in place","volume":"71","author":"Gustavson","journal-title":"J Am Geriatr Soc"},{"key":"R4","unstructured":"New AARP report: majority of adults 50-plus want to age in place, but policies and communities must catch up. AARP; 2024. URL: https:\/\/press.aarp.org\/2024-12-10-New-AARP-Report-Majority-Adults-50-plus-Age-Place-Policies-Communities-Catch-Up [Accessed 01-07-2026]"},{"key":"R5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lawton MP Nahemow L . Ecology and the aging process. In: Eisdorfer C Lawton MP , editors. The Psychology of Adult Development and Aging. American Psychological Association; 1973:619-674. [doi: 10.1037\/10044-020]","DOI":"10.1037\/10044-020"},{"key":"R6","unstructured":"Housing America\u2019s older adults. Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. 2023. URL: https:\/\/www.jchs.harvard.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/reports\/files\/Harvard_JCHS_Housing_Americas_Older_Adults_2023_Revised_040424.pdf?__cf_chl_f_tk=s7wVDIuMVXU.wRHJ_vNXjW9fRojEXLPHN_d3.q4w3NU-1782896650-1.0.1.1-JIBgHMNaAoGmMSqkW7WOd89K4BpBsX11HVE5AFoGBVU [Accessed 01-07-2026]"},{"issue":"12","key":"R7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3631","DOI":"10.1111\/jgs.17383","article-title":"CAPABLE program improves disability in multiple randomized trials","volume":"69","author":"Szanton","journal-title":"J Am Geriatr Soc"},{"issue":"3","key":"R8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"493","DOI":"10.1111\/phn.12852","article-title":"Home and environmental hazards modification for fall prevention among the elderly","volume":"38","author":"Campani","journal-title":"Public Health Nurs"},{"issue":"Supplement_1","key":"R9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"558","DOI":"10.1093\/geroni\/igab046.2144","article-title":"The cost efficiency of home modifications to reduce health care costs","volume":"5","author":"Abraham","journal-title":"Innov Aging"},{"key":"R10","unstructured":"Home modification and repairs for older adults: challenges and opportunities for State Units on Aging. Advancing States. 2020. URL: https:\/\/www.advancingstates.org\/hcbs\/article\/home-modification-and-repairs-older-adults-challenges-and-opportunities-state-units [Accessed 01-07-2026]"},{"key":"R11","unstructured":"Tenenbaum L Kimmel S . Overcoming inertia to jumpstart home modifications for aging in place. Generations. Aug 14, 2020. URL: https:\/\/generations.asaging.org\/home-modifications-aging-place-remodeling\/ [Accessed 01-07-2026]"},{"key":"R12","unstructured":"Older adults and adults with disabilities: federal programs provide support for preventing falls, but program reach is limited. United States Government Accountability Office; 2022. URL: https:\/\/www.gao.gov\/assets\/730\/721979.pdf [Accessed 01-07-2026]"},{"key":"R13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/21514593211002161","article-title":"Barriers to the initiation of home modifications for older adults for fall prevention","volume":"12","author":"Wiseman","journal-title":"Geriatr Orthop Surg Rehabil"},{"key":"R14","unstructured":"How much does it cost to make my home wheelchair accessible? Angi. 2025. URL: https:\/\/www.angi.com\/articles\/how-much-does-it-cost-make-my-home-handicap-accessible.htm [Accessed 01-07-2026]"},{"key":"R15","unstructured":"Reddy AL Beatley N Breysse J Dixon S Wilson J Bloom C . Evaluation of the HUD Older Adult Home Modification Grant Program: cohort 1 interim report. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research; 2024. URL: https:\/\/www.huduser.gov\/portal\/publications\/Evaluation-of-the-HUD-Older-Adult-Home-Modification-Grant-Program-Cohort-1-Interim-Report.html [Accessed 01-07-2026]"},{"issue":"1","key":"R16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12877-024-04702-1","article-title":"Benefits and barriers associated with the use of smart home health technologies in the care of older persons: a systematic review","volume":"24","author":"Tian","journal-title":"BMC Geriatr"},{"key":"R17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/23337214211017340","article-title":"Safely and actively aging in place: older adults\u2019 attitudes and intentions toward smart home technologies","volume":"7","author":"Tural","journal-title":"Gerontol Geriatr Med"},{"issue":"7","key":"R18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/healthcare13070752","article-title":"A systematic review of home modifications for aging in place in older adults","volume":"13","author":"Cha","journal-title":"Healthcare (Basel)"},{"key":"R19","unstructured":"Rogers EM . Diffusion of Innovations. 5th ed. Free Press; 2003. ISBN: 9780743258234"},{"issue":"1","key":"R20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"38","DOI":"10.4278\/0890-1171-12.1.38","article-title":"The transtheoretical model of health behavior change","volume":"12","author":"Prochaska","journal-title":"Am J Health Promot"},{"key":"R21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gibson WJ Brown A . Working with Qualitative Data. SAGE Publications; 2009. [doi: 10.4135\/9780857029041]","DOI":"10.4135\/9780857029041"},{"issue":"8","key":"R22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"982","DOI":"10.1287\/mnsc.35.8.982","article-title":"User acceptance of computer technology: a comparison of two theoretical models","volume":"35","author":"Davis","journal-title":"Manag Sci"},{"key":"R23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/65269","article-title":"Factors influencing health care technology acceptance in older adults based on the technology acceptance model and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology: meta-analysis","volume":"27","author":"Yang","journal-title":"J Med Internet Res"},{"key":"R24","unstructured":"Home for Life Design. URL: https:\/\/www.homeforlifedesign.com\/ [Accessed 01-07-2026]"},{"issue":"2","key":"R25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"377","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbi.2008.08.010","article-title":"Research electronic data capture (REDCap)--a metadata-driven methodology and workflow process for providing translational research informatics support","volume":"42","author":"Harris","journal-title":"J Biomed Inform"},{"key":"R26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/64367","article-title":"Factors affecting clinician readiness to adopt smart home technology for remote health monitoring: systematic review","volume":"7","author":"Dermody","journal-title":"JMIR Aging"},{"issue":"Supplement_2","key":"R27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/geroni\/igaf122.1883","article-title":"Home Safe and Smart: a pilot program integrating smart technology and home modifications for aging in place","volume":"9","author":"Fried","journal-title":"Innov Aging"},{"key":"R28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/51675","article-title":"Digital literacy training for low-income older adults through undergraduate community-engaged learning: single-group pretest-posttest study","volume":"7","author":"Miller","journal-title":"JMIR Aging"},{"key":"R29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/44564","article-title":"Older adults and new technology: mapping review of the factors associated with older adults\u2019 intention to adopt digital technologies","volume":"6","author":"Schroeder","journal-title":"JMIR Aging"},{"key":"R30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Brooke J . SUS: a \u201cquick and dirty\u201d usability scale. In: Jordan PW Thomas B McClelland IL Weerdmeester B , editors. Usability Evaluation in Industry. CRC Press; 1996:189-194. [doi: 10.1201\/9781498710411]","DOI":"10.1201\/9781498710411"},{"key":"R31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10901-021-09888-z","article-title":"Smart home modification design strategies for ageing in place: a systematic review","volume":"37","author":"Ma","journal-title":"J Hous Built Environ"}],"container-title":["JMIR Aging"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/aging.jmir.org\/2026\/1\/e89729","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,31]],"date-time":"2026-07-31T22:24:35Z","timestamp":1785536675000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/aging.jmir.org\/2026\/1\/e89729"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,16]]},"references-count":31,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2196\/89729","relation":{},"ISSN":["2561-7605"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2561-7605","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,16]]},"article-number":"v9i2e89729"}}