Enhancing neurocognitive health, abilities, networks, & community engagement for older adults with cognitive impairments through technology: a scoping review introducing the ENHANCE Center

Abstract

Purpose

Age associated cognitive impairments (CIs) result in difficulties with a wide range of daily activities. As the older adult population increases, so does the importance of understanding and supporting the needs and disabilities of those with CIs. The Enhancing Neurocognitive Health, Abilities, Networks, and Community Engagement (ENHANCE) Centre was established with a focus on developing assistive technology to support the socialisation, transportation, and prospective memory needs of older adults with CIs. The extent to which relevant literature in these domains existed was unknown.

Materials and methods

A scoping review identified existing research meeting the following criteria: participants aged 50+ years classified as having a CI due to mild cognitive impairment (MCI), traumatic brain injury (TBI), or stroke; and a focus on technology-based support for socialisation, transportation, and/or prospective memory activities.

Results

Qualitative and quantitative data are reported from relevant studies. In addition to few studies available, it was common for studies to include 20 or fewer participants. Most assessed technology interactions at one time and few studies examined longitudinal use and benefit. While each paper examined one aspect of user-centred design, no technologies were reported that underwent all stages of the user-centred design process, from needs assessment to iterative design and usability testing, to efficacy trial.

Conclusions

Gaps highlight notable directions for future research and the important role ENHANCE can play in addressing the needs and disabilities of older adults with CIs.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• Although older adults with common cognitive impairments often experience challenges in the domains of socialisation, transportation, and/or prospective memory, few studies exist that examine assistive technology solutions in these domains.

• Additional research with more robust designs and larger sample sizes is needed to discover and assess assistive technology solutions for the needs and disabilities of older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI).

• The ENHANCE Centre will employ a systematic process of needs assessments, user testing, and efficacy tests to develop novel technology solutions to support the needs of older adults with common cognitive impairment.

Keywords:

• Assistive technology
• older adult
• prospective memory
• social isolation
• transportation
• cognitive impairment

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

We gratefully acknowledge support from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research [NIDILRR; grant number #90REGE0012-01-00]. NIDILRR is a center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this paper do not necessarily represent the policies of NIDILRR, ACL, or HHS, and our research findings should not be viewed as having the endorsement of the U.S. Federal Government.