College of Nursing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
College of Social Work, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jan 27;18(3):1113. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18031113.
Describe virtual home assistant use and usefulness from the perspective of older adults and their support persons.
This was a mixed-methods study with older adults and their support persons ( = 10 dyads). Virtual home assistant (VHA) equipment was installed in participants' homes, and its use was documented for 60 days. Participants received protocol-guided telephone calls to address their VHA questions or problems. The type and frequency of VHA use were summarized with descriptive statistics. End-of-study interviews about VHA use were conducted with dyad participants. Qualitative content analyses were used to describe the interview findings about the dyad's perceptions of using the VHA, how it was used, any difficulties experienced, and suggestions for future VHA uses.
Participant dyads reported positive VHA perceptions, including the potential for VHAs to promote aging in place. Participants discussed the challenges learning the technology and replacing old habits with new ones. Participants offered recommendations for future VHA skills and for more education and training about using the VHA.
The study findings suggest that VHAs may be useful for older adults as they age in place and offer reassurance for support persons.
从老年人及其照顾者的角度描述虚拟家庭助手的使用情况和实用性。
这是一项混合方法研究，纳入了老年人及其照顾者（=10 对）。在参与者的家中安装了虚拟家庭助手（VHA）设备，并记录了 60 天的使用情况。参与者接受了协议指导的电话访问，以解决他们的 VHA 问题或问题。使用描述性统计方法总结了 VHA 的使用类型和频率。在研究结束时，对参与者进行了关于 VHA 使用的访谈。使用定性内容分析来描述关于参与者对使用 VHA 的看法、使用方式、遇到的任何困难以及对未来 VHA 使用的建议的访谈结果。
参与者对 VHA 的看法积极，包括 VHA 促进就地老龄化的潜力。参与者讨论了学习技术和用新技术替代旧习惯的挑战。参与者对未来 VHA 技能以及更多关于使用 VHA 的教育和培训提出了建议。
研究结果表明，VHA 可能对老年人在原地老龄化过程中有用，并为照顾者提供安慰。
