Digital alarm system with safety sensor and camera in special housing facilities—supportive or intrusive? A qualitative study of older adults’ experiences

Abstract Background The aging population is increasing due to advancements in medical research and public health, leading to a growing demand for healthcare services and special housing facilities (SHF). Welfare technology (WT) has been introduced to support older adults by enhancing safety, independence, and care efficiency. Despite its potential, WT adoption remains limited, and research on older adults' experiences, particularly in SHFs, is scarce. This study explores the experiences of older adults using a digital alarm system with a safety sensor and camera function (DASSCF) in SHFs. Methods An inductive qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with older adults (3 men, 14 women, aged 67–98) in SHF equipped with DASSCF in a municipality in western Sweden. Data were collected between April and September 2024 and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results Experiences of DASSCF resulted in balancing vulnerability, tolerance, and having peace of mind in daily life categorized into: emotional aspects, where DASSCF contributed to security in everyday life but also raised concerns about privacy; integrity aspects, highlighting the process of learning to live with surveillance and the tension between safety and autonomy; and technological aspects, which focused on usability challenges and the desire to have control over the system. Conclusions When integrating DASSCF into SHF, WT should be as supportive as possible without being too intrusive, allowing older adults to feel strengthened while ensuring their safety and independence.