These advancements can demonstrably improve the well-being of older adults residing in independent living environments, nursing homes, daycare centres, and public hospitals, while also offering considerable benefits to their caregivers [16]. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, digital technology played a crucial role in mitigating the negative consequences of social isolation and limited access to routine health and social care services for older adults [17]. Bridging the digital divide through digital inclusion initiatives directly impacts the quality of life for older adults. These initiatives promote social integration and contribute to an overall improvement in their well-being [18]. However, the progress of assistive technology, particularly smart home tech, is impeded by cost pressure, lack of interoperability, vendor lock-in, accessibility challenges, complexity in usage and maintenance, and limited functionalities [19]. Several factors shape how readily older adults embrace new technologies, including sociodemographic characteristics (age, education, income), cognitive abilities (memory, processing speed), attitudinal aspects (beliefs about technology's usefulness), emotional responses (comfort level, anxiety), and environmental considerations (accessibility features, home layout, and technology adoption by landlords who own and rent independent environments) [20; 21; 22]. Overcoming these limitations requires a comprehensive approach that also addresses the fragmented nature of existing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) devices [23]. Furthermore, the data generated by these devices hold immense potential for monitoring and supporting individuals that are vulnerable to frailty [24]. However, while middleware solutions exist in larger-scale contexts, their applicability to home users remains limited [25]. This paper draws on demographic trends, frailty research, and technological challenges to propose a comprehensive framework for leveraging smart home technologies. This framework aims to mitigate frailty and enhance independent living among older adults. By exploring the integration of smart and assistive technologies, we contribute to the discussion on optimising living environments for the well-being and independence of the ageing population. Building on a review of existing literature on assistive technology adoption by older adults, the study utilises co-design activities to understand their needs and concerns. These activities engage older adults in articulating their preferences and apprehensions regarding the use of assistive and robotic devices in their homes. Insights from these sessions are to inform the development of a more comprehensive model that addresses the key themes and concerns identified by participants. The presented systematic literature review provides a foundational theoretical understanding by identifying existing factors influencing technology acceptance, while the co-design activities gather rich, nuanced and user-oriented data to fill the gaps left by generic models. Ultimately, this research strives to create a middleware solution that seamlessly integrates COTS devices, enhancing health management capabilities and facilitating the prediction and prevention of health issues. The following research questions delve into the perceptions of older adults, caregivers, and technicians regarding the challenges of integrating smart home assistive technology, addressing design and implementation decisions, and understanding the learning preferences of older adults for technology adoption. **R1a:** How do older adults, along with caregivers and technicians in independent living communities, perceive the challenges associated with integrating COTS smart home assistive technology and robotics into their homes to enhance quality of life and mitigate frailty?