Background: Technology use is increasingly integrated into daily life, including among older adults, whose adoption and engagement with technology warrant closer examination. According to the matching person and technology model, technology adoption is more likely when a person’s preferences and needs align with a device’s functions and features, as well as the environment in which it is used. However, factors such as age-related changes, evolving preferences, and the rapid pace of digital transformation complicate this process. Additionally, older adults often rely on support from family members and health professionals, yet their perspectives remain largely unexplored. Objective: This study aimed to examine the daily technology use of older adults in Israel from a triangle perspective, incorporating the views of older adults, family members, and health professionals. It explored preferred technology-based activities, device features, the shift from in-person to technology-based interactions, and responses to mismatches between preferences, device characteristics, and social support. Methods: Nine web-based focus groups, each with 6 to 7 participants, were conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic (February 2021 to July 2022). Participants included 20 healthy, independent older adults (10 women, aged 66-80 years), 19 family members (children and grandchildren, aged 21-55 years), and 20 health professionals with at least 5 years of experience working with older adults. Results: Older adults demonstrated diverse preferences for technology use in daily activities, shaped by urgency, significance, and device characteristics. This perspective was reinforced by family members and health professionals, who highlighted the importance of distinguishing between technology types based on their users and features. Additionally, older adults expressed mixed views on shifting from in-person interactions to digital alternatives, while family members and health professionals emphasized the importance of social interaction for well-being. Finally, older adults described significant emotional challenges when navigating technology. Family members and health professionals identified key contributors, including the gap between perceived and actual technological abilities, generational differences in digital exposure, and cognitive demands associated with technology use. Conclusions: This study highlights the significant variability in older adults’ daily activity preferences, which strongly influences their technology use. It suggests shifting the focus from technology to its practical application in meeting individual needs. In this context, it is important to consider the need for social interactions. Addressing social interaction needs and emotional challenges is crucial, as unmet technological needs can lead to frustration and disengagement. These insights can inform strategies to enhance technology use among older adults by aligning technology design and support systems with their preferences and needs.

Background: During COVID-19 lockdowns, older adults’ engagement in daily activities was severely affected, causing negative physical and mental health implications. Technology flourished as a means of performing daily activities in this complex situation; however, older adults often struggled to effectively use these opportunities. Despite the important role of older adults’ social environments—including their families and health professionals—in influencing their technology use, research into their unique perspectives is lacking. Objective: This study aimed to explore the daily activity performance, health, and technology use experiences of healthy independent Israeli adults (aged ≥65 years) during COVID-19 from a 3-dimensional perspective: older adults, older adults’ family members, and health professionals. Methods: Nine online focus groups, averaging 6-7 participants per group, were conducted with older adults, family members, and health professionals (N=59). Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and constant comparative methods. Results: The intertwining of daily activity performance and health emerged as a central theme, with differences between the groups. Older adults prioritized their self-fulfilling routines based on motivation and choice, especially in social-familial activities. In contrast, family members and health professionals focused on serious physical and mental health COVID-19–related consequences. A consensus among all three groups revealed the meaningful role of technology use during this period in bridging functional limitations. Participants delved into technology’s transformative power, focusing on the need for technology to get engaged in daily activities. Conclusions: This study illustrates the profound interplay between daily activity performances, physical and mental health, and technology use, using a 3-dimensional approach. Its focus on technology’s uses and benefits sheds light on what older adults need to increase their technology use. Interventions for improving digital activity performance can be tailored to meet older adults’ needs and preferences by focusing on motivational and preference-related activities.

This study aimed to identify the constructs related to successful aging in the context of engagement in social and productive activities. A qualitative design was used to explore three viewpoints on the aging period with 9 focus groups (3 each for adults 65 years or older, older adults’ family members, and health professionals) and 18 interviews with older adults (older adults M_age = 71.7 years, Standard Deviation = 4.62). The transcripts were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory principles. Three categories were identified for successful aging: (a) engagement with life, including social participation, fixed/flexible schedule, time, and meaningful occupation; (b) self-management abilities, including producing daily schedules, independence, and initiation/striving toward goals; and (c) diversity among older adults, including their views on retirement, being active or not, and their dreams/values/goals. Considering the diverse nature of older adults, recognizing the importance of life engagement and self-management abilities emphasizes the necessity for an occupation-based, self-tailored approach to enable successful aging.

Age-related physiological and cognitive changes significantly affect older adults’ participation in day-to-day functioning. This interview study aimed to uncover and illuminate the intricate dynamics between individuals’ responses to aging restrictions and day-to-day functioning, and how they relate to successful aging. We used a qualitative research design to explore the various responses to aging decline and their implications for daily functioning among older adults. Eighteen in-depth interviews were conducted with older adults, focusing on their occupational characteristics, needs, and responses to aging constraints. The transcripts were analyzed using principles of constructivist grounded theory. Three main categories were identified regarding older adults’ responses to the decline in abilities that come with age: (a) acceptance, reflecting the individual’s ability to adapt to the age-related changes and constraints; (b) personal resources, including a positive mindset and self-efficacy; and (c) coping strategies, including meaningful roles and occupational adaptation. This study’s findings indicate three types of responses to aging restrictions that may contribute to greater engagement in daily life and, consequently, be a key to successful aging. Developing individually tailored interventions that focus on occupational adaptations according to individual needs and preferences is vital in helping older adults maintain their daily functioning and quality of life.

BACKGROUND Technology use is increasingly integrated into daily life, including among older adults, whose adoption and engagement with technology warrant closer examination. According to the matching person and technology model, technology adoption is more likely when a person’s preferences and needs align with a device’s functions and features, as well as the environment in which it is used. However, factors such as age-related changes, evolving preferences, and the rapid pace of digital transformation complicate this process. Additionally, older adults often rely on support from family members and health professionals, yet their perspectives remain largely unexplored. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine the daily technology use of older adults in Israel from a triangle perspective, incorporating the views of older adults, family members, and health professionals. It explored preferred technology-based activities, device features, the shift from in-person to technology-based interactions, and responses to mismatches between preferences, device characteristics, and social support. METHODS Nine web-based focus groups, each with 6 to 7 participants, were conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic (February 2021 to July 2022). Participants included 20 healthy, independent older adults (10 women, aged 66-80 years), 19 family members (children and grandchildren, aged 21-55 years), and 20 health professionals with at least 5 years of experience working with older adults. RESULTS Older adults demonstrated diverse preferences for technology use in daily activities, shaped by urgency, significance, and device characteristics. This perspective was reinforced by family members and health professionals, who highlighted the importance of distinguishing between technology types based on their users and features. Additionally, older adults expressed mixed views on shifting from in-person interactions to digital alternatives, while family members and health professionals emphasized the importance of social interaction for well-being. Finally, older adults described significant emotional challenges when navigating technology. Family members and health professionals identified key contributors, including the gap between perceived and actual technological abilities, generational differences in digital exposure, and cognitive demands associated with technology use. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the significant variability in older adults’ daily activity preferences, which strongly influences their technology use. It suggests shifting the focus from technology to its practical application in meeting individual needs. In this context, it is important to consider the need for social interactions. Addressing social interaction needs and emotional challenges is crucial, as unmet technological needs can lead to frustration and disengagement. These insights can inform strategies to enhance technology use among older adults by aligning technology design and support systems with their preferences and needs.

BACKGROUND Older adults’ engagement in daily activities was severely impeded during the COVID-19 lockdowns, negatively affecting their physical and mental health. Although technology flourished as a means of performing daily activities in this complex situation, older adults often struggled to use these opportunities effectively. Despite the important role of older adults’ social environments—including their families and health professionals—in influencing their technology use, research into their unique perspectives is lacking. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore the daily activity performance, health, and technology-use experiences of healthy, independent older Israeli adults (65 years+) during COVID-19 from a three-dimensional perspective: older adults, older adult family members, and health professionals. METHODS Nine online focus groups, averaging six to seven participants per group, were conducted with older adults, family members, and health professionals (N=59). Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and the constant comparative method. RESULTS The intertwining of daily activity performance and health emerged as a central theme, with differences between the groups. Older adults prioritized their self-fulfilling routines based on motivation and choice, especially with relation to social-familial activities. In contrast, family members and health professionals focused on serious physical and mental health COVID-19 related consequences. A consensus among all three groups revealed the meaningful role of technology usage during this period in bridging functional limitations. Participants delved into technology’s transformative power, focusing on its necessity for engagement in daily activities. CONCLUSIONS Using a three-dimensional approach, this study illustrates the profound interplay between daily activities performance, physical and mental health, and technology use. Its focus on technology’s uses and benefits sheds light on what older adults need to increase their technology use. Interventions for improving digital activity performance can be tailored to meet older adults’ needs and preferences by focusing on motivational and preference-related activities.