Everyday technologies for increasing activities of daily living of older people with mild cognitive impairment living in the community

Everyday technologies are items of electronic, technical or mechanical nature and have meaning for an individual’s ability to participate in everyday occupations. Despite their importance, the use of such technologies can be... [ view full abstract ]

Everyday technologies are items of electronic, technical or mechanical nature and have meaning for an individual’s ability to participate in everyday occupations. Despite their importance, the use of such technologies can be challenging for older people with mild dementia or mild cognitive impairment who live in the community. In this project we aim to identify and review studies exploring or evaluating the use of everyday technologies to increase activities of daily living for this population group.

Methods: A scoping review methodology is being used. Eligibility criteria included peer-reviewed empirical studies focusing on technology use by older people with mild cognitive impairment, early dementia or mild stage Alzheimer’s disease. Searches were conducted in well known data bases. Studies retrieved from the searches were first independently screened for relevance and then independently assessed for inclusion. Relevant data were extracted from each study using a standard format developed for this study.

Preliminary Findings: 190 studies were identified. Following screening, 56 studies were assessed for inclusion. Fourteen studies have been included in the review to date comprising a range of study designs including case studies, qualitative studies, single-group before and after design. The studies focused on the use of pagers, telephones, mobile phones, global positioning systems, microwave ovens, coffee Machines, stove timer, remote control and a cassette player.

Conclusion: The findings from this scoping review will highlight the nature and extent of research evidence on this topic. Recommendations for occupational therapy practice and future research will be made in light of these findings.