Eveline Wouters

Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Tilburg University

Papers

Total Citations

135

H-Index

About

Eveline Wouters is a pioneering researcher in the intersection of gerontechnology, digital health, and co-design, with a focus on empowering older adults through technology. Her most influential work, the *Handbook of Smart Homes, Health Care and Well-Being* (2016, 131 citations), stands as a definitive resource, synthesizing evidence on how smart home technologies can support aging in place, independent living, and chronic disease management. Wouters’ research is distinguished by its commitment to inclusive, participatory design—as exemplified in her study “*Why is that robot following me?* Older participants' perspectives of co-designing digital technology” (2020), which critically examines how older adults experience and shape the development of assistive robots and digital tools. By foregrounding user perspectives, she challenges techno-centric assumptions and advocates for ethical, meaningful innovation. Her work has profoundly influenced policy and practice in long-term care, demonstrating that technology must be co-created with its end users to be truly effective. With a career spanning decades, Wouters remains a leading voice in ensuring that digital health solutions enhance, rather than undermine, the autonomy and dignity of older populations.