From U.S. News & World Report
The number of older adults in the U.S. is on the rise. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of Americans aged 65 and older is projected to increase from about 58 million in 2022 to 82 million in 2050. The older the population grows, the more expensive health care costs can get due to the added strain on resources.
Additionally, since the pandemic, nursing homes and assisted living facilities are limiting capacities. A 2024 study by the American Health Care Association found that 57% of nursing homes have a waiting list for new residents, largely due to inflated operational costs, lack of funding, and workforce shortages. From this comes the heightened draw toward aging in place – a movement to both combat the inaccessibility of assisted living facilities and to remain comfortable and surrounded by community even in old age.
In June 2025, U.S. News & World Report surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults between the ages of 60 and 92 to learn how assistive technologies are being used in their homes and the ways older adults plan to use these devices to help them age in place. This survey follows our two previous iterations (2023 and 2024), providing insights on the changes – or relative consistencies – in opinion.
Throughout the years, one thing has remained the same: A majority of older adults see aging in place – or the ability to grow old in one’s same home and community – as an important goal of theirs, with 94% of surveyed older adults saying they want to age in place as of 2025.
Technologies that assist with daily life when aging can range from mobile apps to smart home connectivity features to medical alert and tracking devices. In 2023, nearly half (49%) of older adults reported adopting these technologies to assist with general aging. Other reasons cited for use include mobility impairments (28%), such as arthritis and fibromyalgia, and hearing impairments (22%).
Top Considerations Include Accessibility and Design
n 2023, U.S. News & World Report surveyed older adults about their medical alert device usage and preferences. More than half (53%) of U.S. adults aged 55 and older used some type of assistive or health-related technology. Medical or health-related mobile apps (25%) and wearable medical or health-related trackers (17%) were two of the most widely utilized technology types.
The most important considerations amongst respondents were ease of use (75%) and ease of set up (50%). Other top considerations included the device’s accessibility via a mobile app (38%) and its wireless nature (37%).
Using Assistive Technologies Improves Quality of Life
More than half (57%) of older adults say using assistive or health-related technologies has improved their quality of life. This is unsurprising as such technologies as health mobile apps, health trackers, and medical alert devices not only encourage increased activity levels, getting older adults outside and moving with motivational step tracking and goal setting features, they also can provide real-time vitals monitoring and prompt intervention in case of emergency, offering peace of mind.
Medical alert devices and other wearable technologies often integrate automatic fall detection features that can connect the wearer to a monitoring center or emergency services, depending on the device’s capabilities and settings.
In addition to health monitoring capabilities, assistive technologies, like mobile medical alert devices, also incorporate GPS tracking and location pinpointing. If a wearer wanted to venture outside the home, for example, they wouldn’t have to be afraid of getting lost or having an accident somewhere they wouldn’t be able to call for help.
Cost of Living and Preparedness Affect Aging in Place Decisions
While aging in place is highly sought after, it may seem unattainable for some, largely due to the cost of living. In fact, nearly half (49%) of all older adults say that cost-of-living increases are making it more difficult for them to age in place.
The U.S. Census Bureau reported that, in 2023, 36.8 million people in the country lived in poverty. Inflation continues to rise as well and, as measured by the consumer price index, rose at an annual rate of 2.4% in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Medicare, Medicaid and some private health insurance policies may provide supplemental coverage for home mobility aids or medical alert devices to make aging in place more attainable.
Older Adults Will Continue To Use Technology To Help Them Age in Place
All things considered, as the U.S. population continues to age, the move toward aging in place will continue to see attraction. Growing old in a familiar and comfortable environment is largely preferred, with 94% of older adults surveyed in 2025 citing this as an important goal of theirs. The adoption of assistive health-related technologies, such as mobile apps, health trackers, and medical alert devices, will only serve to make this goal safer and more attainable.
