During visits to three sub-districts in Hongqiao, the research team documented how age-friendly renovation and smart care are used in real households.
The study found that what affects adoption is often not the technology itself but whether installation, training and after-sales support form a complete service chain. Many families reported that no one explained the device after installation and no one repaired it when problems arose.
Older people's habits vary widely: some are willing to try new devices, while others rely more on their children and community staff. The researchers argue that age-friendly renovation should shift from delivering products to delivering services, integrating training, follow-up and maintenance into one process.
In the next stage, the team will track the gaps in the service chain and work with communities and companies to design replicable collaboration mechanisms.