The perceived quality of life of older Viennese citizens does not depend on their actual age or their income. More important are active social relationships and an interest in participating in public life. This is the result of a survey conducted by Ulrike Bechtold of the Institute of Technology Assessment (ITA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences on behalf of the City of Vienna.

The survey included 245 Viennese over 65 years of age who still live independently. Most are satisfied with their quality of life. Only 17 percent said they were not very or not at all satisfied. "This shows that the actual age is less important than how old a person feels. If someone has an active social life and there are also good days in between the bad ones, then they are more willing to accept technical aids such as light sensors, mobile phones for seniors or emergency call systems. We have to get away from equating this support with helplessness in old age," emphasises Bechtold.

How do we do it?

In her concluding article “Technology for older adults: Interaction instead of Sensors” Bechtold describes which measures are needed from politics, how willing people are to redesign their living space for technical aids and how companies can better respond to the needs and self-image of older people: