PERTANIKA
Journal of Quality of Life Studies
Review Article
Accessible Smart Home Technologies for Ageing in Place and Quality of Life among Older Adults: A Scoping Review
Nurin Iman Batrisya Badrulshama, Hafiszah Ismaila, Noraini Omara
a
Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
Abstract
Population ageing has increased the need for residential environments that enable older adults to live safely, independently, and with sustained quality of life. Guided by a quality-of-life and environmental gerontology lens, this scoping review maps recent evidence on accessible smart home technologies that support ageing in place and well-being among older adults. A Scopus-based search of literature published between 2020 and 2026 identified 825 initial records, from which 25 studies were retained for synthesis after screening and eligibility assessment. The review identified six interrelated domains of smart home support: safety and emergency response systems, accessibility and assistive fixtures, automation and environmental control, health, wellness and remote monitoring, connectivity and social engagement, and energy and utility management. These domains support ageing in place by enhancing functional independence, risk prevention, health management, environmental comfort, social participation, and confidence in daily living. The findings suggest that smart home technologies should not be treated as isolated devices or mere feature categories, but as interacting socio-technical and residential supports whose quality-of-life value depends on usability, affordability, environmental fit, privacy, and empirical validation. The review also highlights persistent gaps, including affordability, digital literacy, privacy, interoperability, maintenance, internet reliability, and limited empirical validation in Malaysian and Southeast Asian housing contexts. The review contributes by mapping accessible smart home technology domains to functional ageing-in-place roles and quality-of-life dimensions, thereby offering a structured basis for planners, designers, technology developers, and policymakers seeking to align smart housing provision with the needs of ageing populations.
Keywords: ageing in place; smart home technology; accessible housing; older adults; quality of life
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being; SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Cite As (APA)
Badrulsham, N. I. B., Ismail, H., & Omar, N. (2026). Accessible smart home technologies for ageing in place and quality of life among older adults: A scoping review. Pertanika Journal of Quality of Life Studies, 1(1), Article e010.
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