Grigorovich Alisa, Marcotte Ashley-Ann, Colobong Romeo, Szabo Margaret, MacNeill Carlee, Blais Daniel, Giffin Gail, Clahane Ken, Goldman Ian P, Harris Bessie, Clarke Caseley Abby, Gaunt Melanie, Vickery Jessica, Torrealba Christina, Kirkland Susan, Kontos Pia
Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Innov Aging. 2024 Nov 4;8(12):igae102. doi: 10.1093/geroni/igae102. eCollection 2024.
Information communication technologies (ICTs) can enhance older adults' health and well-being. Most research on the use of voice-activated ICTs by older adults has focused on the experiences of individuals living in the community, excluding those who live in long-term care homes. Given evidence of the potential benefits of such technologies to mitigate social isolation and loneliness, more research is needed about their impacts in long-term care home settings. With this in mind, we evaluated impacts and engagement of older adults with voice- and touchscreen-activated ICTs in one long-term care home in Canada.
Interviews were conducted with older adults who were provided with a Google Nest Hub Max and with staff as part of a larger implementation study. Participants completed semistructured interviews before the technology was implemented, and again at 6 and 12 months. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis techniques.
We found that residents primarily used the technologies to engage in self-directed digital leisure and to engage with others both in and outside the home, and that this in turn enhanced their comfort, pleasure, and social connectedness. We also identified ongoing barriers to their engagement with the technology, including both personal and structural factors.
Our findings suggest that implementation of voice-activated ICTs can bring added value to broader efforts to improve well-being and quality of life in long-term care by enhancing choice, self-determination, and meaningful relationships.
信息通信技术（ICTs）能够增进老年人的健康与福祉。大多数关于老年人使用语音激活ICTs的研究都聚焦于社区居民的体验，而将长期护理机构中的老年人排除在外。鉴于此类技术在减轻社会隔离和孤独感方面具有潜在益处的证据，需要更多关于其在长期护理机构环境中影响的研究。考虑到这一点，我们评估了加拿大一家长期护理机构中老年人使用语音和触摸屏激活ICTs的影响及参与情况。
作为一项更大规模实施研究的一部分，我们对配备了谷歌Nest Hub Max的老年人以及工作人员进行了访谈。参与者在技术实施前、实施6个月和12个月时分别完成了半结构化访谈。访谈进行了录音、转录，并使用主题分析技术进行了分析。
我们发现居民主要利用这些技术进行自主数字休闲活动，并与家中家外的其他人互动，这反过来又提高了他们的舒适度、愉悦感和社会联系。我们还确定了他们在使用该技术过程中持续存在的障碍，包括个人因素和结构因素。
我们的研究结果表明，通过增强选择、自主决定权和有意义的人际关系，实施语音激活ICTs可为改善长期护理中的福祉和生活质量的更广泛努力带来附加价值。
