ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Mar. 16, 2026) – As America’s senior population grows and social isolation becomes an increasing concern, new research shows that technology can play a powerful role in helping older adults stay healthy, connected and independent when solutions are designed in partnership with residents rather than for them.
This research, now outlined in “Residents First: Technology for Connection and Healthy Living in Affordable Senior Housing,” was commissioned by Volunteers of America (VOA) and made possible with support from the Humana Foundation. The Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI) carried out the research and authored this report.
The full Residents First report can be found at voa.org/residents-first.
“We know that technology alone does not solve the concerns of older folks living independently,” said Stephen Samuels, VOA’s Vice President of Innovation & Impact Investing. “We must always work as partners with residents, gain their trust, and create technology that meets their needs while fitting seamlessly into their daily lives. We can’t assume what they need.”
Insights from the Residents First research are already shaping VOA’s commitment to develop best-in-class affordable senior housing as part of the growing Buzzard Point redevelopment in southwest Washington, D.C. Community participants in the research were selected to reflect the demographics of potential residents — older adults living in affordable housing in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Washington, D.C. is home to approximately 83,600 residents aged 65 and older, the majority of whom are Black (62.5 percent), female (59.3 percent) and living alone (74.1 percent). More than 40 percent qualify for affordable housing, and nearly 30 percent live with one or more disabilities (according to the D.C. Office of the Budget Director, 2020). This population was prioritized to ensure that findings were directly relevant to those who stand to benefit most from technology integration in supportive housing.
“While this research was conducted with residents in Washington, D.C, the findings provide a national roadmap for VOA and our peers as we work to integrate technology as a fundamental part of the lifestyle at affordable senior housing communities nationwide,” Samuels said.
To make affordable older adult housing truly supportive, researchers identified five categories of technology that can most meaningfully enhance the quality of life for older adults: Connection and Engagement; Safety and Security; Health and Wellness; Lifelong Learning; and Caregiver Resources. Every resident should have access to a core set of technologies that promote health, safety, and overall well-being. Technology also should be treated as an essential part of the housing infrastructure, much like electricity or running water, that helps older adults maintain their physical health, mental wellness, and social connection.
Recommended baseline infrastructure includes: (1) Reliable broadband (10+ Gbps) building-wide; (2) A
personal tablet for every resident; (3) Smart appliances and fixtures, such as motion-sensor lighting to reduce falls and induction-style stoves with automatic turn-off features; (4) Doorbells with visual alerts like flashing lights and large, accessible peepholes specially designed for residents with vision loss; and (5) Remote- controlled appliances such as washers, dryers and dishwashers.
“They have given me these motion-sensor lights so that when I get up in the middle of the night, I don’t have to struggle to get to a light switch in my bedroom, bathroom, hall, living room and kitchen,” said one 55+ focus group participant. “I think that was real nice that they came up with something like that … and then it goes out pretty quickly, too.”
AgeTech solutions showcased during the research also included technology like AI-powered phone calls to check in on the welfare of residences, and ultra-lifelike robotic pets to help alleviate loneliness.
“When you go through losing loved ones and friends, and you can’t physically touch them anymore … you can touch that [cat],” one participant said of the robotic pet. “It can be that person for a day. It’s not actually the person, but it’s their spirit and peace … so this cat is going to be a comfort to me.”
Given VOA’s expansive affordable housing portfolio across the United States, these findings are now guiding the organization’s investments in AgeTech pilots in similar environments. VOA owns and operates more than 500 affordable housing properties in 42 states, including Puerto Rico, with more than 20,000 affordable units housing around 25,000 people each year. These include around 8,000 affordable units specifically aimed at older residents. VOA is currently testing senior-centric PingCares watches with residents in Michigan; personalized, online Vivo fitness classes with residents in a Colorado community; and Joy for All companion pets with 100 residents in Florida. VOA also is piloting innovative programming to increase social connectiveness through proven interventions in four housing properties in Florida and Texas.
Research findings made one point clear — technology is not an add-on but rather quality-of-life infrastructure. When thoughtfully designed and deployed, technology can help older adults stay healthy, connected, and fulfilled.
Effective technology integration begins not with devices but with the people who will use them. Equitable
access, affordability, and ongoing digital literacy support are essential for technology to become a bridge to well-being rather than a new source of exclusion. Engaging older adults at the start of the design and planning process ensures that technology solutions reflect their lived realities, daily routines, aspirations, and concerns.
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About Volunteers of America
Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need live healthy, safe and productive lives. Since 1896, we have supported and empowered America’s most vulnerable groups, including veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, at-risk youth, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, those recovering from addictions and many others. Through hundreds of human service programs, including housing and health care, Volunteers of America helps more than 1.5 million people in over 400 communities. Learn more at www.voa.org.
About Institute for Public Health Innovation
Founded in 2009, the Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI) is a nonprofit organization working to
advance health equity and create healthier communities across Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. As the region’s officially recognized public health institute and a member of the National Network of Public Health Institutes, IPHI partners with public and private stakeholders to drive systems-level change.
Media Contact:
David Burch, Volunteers of America
(703) 341-5054
