Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Sep 26, 2025
Date Accepted: Feb 18, 2026
Co-creation of implementation and evaluation of two digital innovations impact on home adaptation for older adults: an action research pilot study protocol
ABSTRACT
Background:
Aging in place is a priority for many older adults but often requires home adaptations when temporary or permanent physical disabilities arise. It reduces the risk of falls, improves health-related quality of life, and enhances social participation. Two new digital innovations aim to support home adaptation: Hygiene 2.0, which facilitates the adaptation of baths and showers, and MapIt, which provides 3D mapping of the environment.
Objective:
This action study aims to co-create and evaluate the implementation of the Hygiene 2.0 and MapIt innovations, and to measure their impact on supporting older adults who experience difficulties with personal hygiene or are in the process of adapting their homes.
Methods:
This study uses a multiple case study approach with a mixed convergent design, guided by the integrated-Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (i-PARIHS) framework. We will conduct semi-structured interviews with 66 participants, including eight older adults-informal caregiver dyads (or individual older adults when no informal caregiver is available) for MapIt only, 20 dyads for Hygiene 2.0 or the combined use of Hygiene 2.0 and MapIt, and 10 assistive technology advisors across all innovation scenarios. A cost analysis will be conducted from both the Quebec public system and patient perspectives. Qualitative data and mixed data integration will be analyzed using analytical questioning.
Results:
This study was conducted within the framework of, and with financial support from, the Bien vieillir chez soi au Bas-Saint-Laurent action research program . Recruitment began in May 2024. We expect to complete data collection by December 2025 and begin data cleaning and analysis in January 2026.
Conclusions:
This study will provide valuable insights into how innovative digital tools can facilitate home adaptations that promote aging in place. By assessing their implementation, usability, and cost-effectiveness, the findings are expected to inform best practices, guide decision-making for health and social care stakeholders, and ultimately contribute to improving the quality of life and autonomy of older adults.
Citation
Request queued. Please wait while the file is being generated. It may take some time.
Copyright
© The authors. All rights reserved. This is a privileged document currently under peer-review/community review (or an accepted/rejected manuscript). Authors have provided JMIR Publications with an exclusive license to publish this preprint on it's website for review and ahead-of-print citation purposes only. While the final peer-reviewed paper may be licensed under a cc-by license on publication, at this stage authors and publisher expressively prohibit redistribution of this draft paper other than for review purposes.