Presentation
Aging in Place with Cognitive Impairment: Toward User-Centered Assistive Technologies
SessionPoster Session 2
Event Type
Poster
TimeWednesday, October 12th4:30pm - 5:30pm EDT
LocationPoster Gallery
DescriptionMillions of older adults lose mental capacities, such as memory and attention because of Alzheimer’s disease. To reduce the burden of Alzheimer’s disease, the use of assistive technologies for patients and their informal caregivers is considered essential. However, these technologies are made as “one size fits all” instead of being tailored to accommodate people with varying degrees of cognitive impairment and those with diverse races/ethnicities. In this study, we surveyed people across a range of cognitive impairment and races/ethnicities to determine whether these factors influence the types of technological assistance required and used. Survey findings suggest that assistive technologies should be designed for those with severe dementia, regardless of race, and should focus on addressing needs related to walking, preparing meals and personal hygiene. Furthermore, since COVID-19, devices to assist with walking, preparing meals and personal hygiene have been used significantly more by Whites with severe dementia.