Wireless sensor technology in dementia care : Caregiver perceptions, technology take‐up and business model innovation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine health professionals’ recognition of sensor technology as a means to enhance quality of life (QoL) of care recipients with dementia, in Switzerland and France. In light of this research, the authors suggest potential vectors of development for wireless sensor technology (WSN) businesses working in gerontechnology. Information and communication technology (ICT) for the aging is a high‐potential, nascent market in which the technology‐enabled solutions lack business models to make them readily available and easily‐accepted. Design/methodology/approach – To enhance the contribution of the study to both theory and practice, a mixed methodology combined qualitative and quantitative approaches. Similarly, the data collection techniques included interviews, a case study and an online questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis was used to analyse the quantitative data to examine the relationships between elements of WSN‐adoption and QoL aspects. Findings – Positive respondent attitude towards gerontechnology as a means to enhance QoL led to the consideration of possible value propositions and innovations at the centre of future business models, channel development and multidisciplinary collaboration that could overcome major social and political obstacles. Originality/value – This study's originality lies in its intention to survey professional caregiver perceptions in order to identify value creation potential.