The symposium, as part of GSA 2020, presents four projects on technology use of older adults and caregivers.

Abstract. Innovative technology can improve the lives of older adults, including those diagnosed with dementia, and their caregivers. Yet a lack of careful attention to preferences and needs of end-users and continuous updates to resources could leave consumers without a valuable user experience. This symposium will cover exemplar cases of innovative technologies, available resources, and current research. The first presentation will discuss virtual reality used among older adults with dementia and the opportunities to further explore it’s use as an intervention. The second presentation will share the process of seeking stakeholders’ preferences in the design specifications for a socially assistive robot and how the perspectives shaped the development of the Quori robot. The third presentation will focus on detailing the Information Quality Framework for Online Dementia Care Resources. The fourth presentation will discuss the implications of a systematic review that revealed researchers are reporting on all older adults within a category of 65 and older, thus failing to present differences among different cohorts. These presentations will all conclude with a discussion on opportunities for improvement in the respective areas.

Sefcik, J. S. & Huh-Yoo, J. (2020) Technology Use of Older Adults and Caregivers: Discoveries and Opportunities for Improvement. (Symposium Chair: Sefcik, J. S., Discussant: Huh-Yoo, J.) Gerontological Society of America 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting, Online Meeting. November 4-7.

Project 1

Sefcik, J. S., Petrovsky, D. V., Cacchione, P. Z., Oh, S., & Demiris, G.
Virtual Reality Use Among Persons with Dementia: An Integrative Review

It is not well understood how virtual reality (VR) is currently used by older adults who have cognitive deficits due to dementia. The aim of this integrative review was to examine and report on published research exploring VR use among older adults with dementia. We searched 3 data bases for publications and used Whittemore and Knafl’s methodology for data extraction. Out of 122 articles we identified 24 that met our inclusion criteria, 15 published in 2012 and later. Most articles (12) used VR for assessment, and the others used VR for cognitive training (5) and as an intervention (3) (i.e., for exercise). Sample sizes were 30 or fewer persons with dementia. There is heterogeneity in the types of VR equipment, experiences, and foci of assessment through VR use. We identify opportunities to further explore VR as an intervention for persons with dementia to improve quality of life.

Project 2.

Pamela Z. Cacchione, Caio Mucchiani, Kristine Lima, Ross Mead, Mark Yim, Michelle J Johnson
Engaging End Users in Designing Systems and Hardware for a Socially Assistive Robot

Development of low-cost robots to assist older adults requires the input of end users: older adults, paid caregivers and clinicians. This study builds on prior work focused on the task investigation and deployment of mobile robots in a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly. We identified hydration, walking and reaching as tasks appropriate for the robot and helpful to the older adults. In this study we investigated the design specifications for a socially assistive robot to perform the above tasks. Through focus groups of clinicians, older adults and paid caregivers we sought preferences on the design specifications. Using conventional content analysis, the following four themes emerged: the robot must be polite and personable; science fiction or alien like; depends on the need of the older adult; and multifaceted to meet the needs of older adults. These themes were used in the design and deployment of the Quori robot.

Project 3

Smriti, Diva, DiMaria-Ghalili, Rose Ann, Gitlin, L. N., Sarcevic, A., Yan, E., Huh-Yoo, Jina
Information Quality Assessment Framework for Online Dementia Care Resources

Persons with dementia and caregivers can benefit from online resources. The quality and accessibility of these resources, however, can vary. We present work on the Information Quality Framework for Online Dementia Care Resources. To develop the framework, we first empirically examine resources being retrieved with query terms developed with a medical librarian. Searching one of the possible keyword combinations related to living with dementia on Google “Alzheimer AND financial planning” returned 18,900,000 results. Among the top 13 results on the first page of the search results, six were websites of government or non-profit organizations, four were for-profit companies, and three were advertisements. Out of eight unique organizations and companies, two provided support through online communities, but only one is active. The next steps include developing systematic ways to evaluate the credibility and accuracy of these resources, and search and test broader topics of dementia care resources online.

Project 4.

Choi, Hyung Wook; DiMaria-Ghalili, Rose Ann; Kelly, Mat; Poole, Alexander; Yan, Erjia; Huh-Yoo, J
Older Adults and Technology Use: A Systematic Literature Review

Researchers are increasingly interested in leveraging technology to support the physical and mental well-being of older adults. We systematically reviewed previous scholars’ criteria for sampling older adult populations, focusing on age cohorts (namely adults over 65) and their use of internet and smart technologies. We iteratively developed keyword combinations that represent older adults and technology from the retrieved literature. Between 2011 and 2020, 70 systematic reviews were identified, 26 of which met our inclusion criteria for full review. Most important, not one of the 26 papers used a sample population classification more fine-grained than “65 and older.” A knowledge gap thus exists; researchers lack a nuanced understanding of differences within this extraordinarily broad age-range. Demographics that we propose to analyze empirically include not only finer measures of age (e.g., 65-70 or 71-75, as opposed to “65 and older”), but also those age groups’ attitudes toward and capacity for technology use.