ABSTRACT
Gerontechnology is an interdisciplinary field of research involving gerontology and technology in order to help older adults identify and slow down the effects of age-related physical and cognitive decline. It has enormous potential to allow individuals to remain in their own homes and improve their quality of life. This study aims to assess the impact of a multicomponent platform, consisting of an ambient sensor, wearable devices, and a cloud application, as an intervention in terms of usability and acceptance as primary outcomes and well-being, quality of life, and self-efficacy as secondary outcomes in a sample of 25 older adults aged over 65 after 21 days of non-supervised usage at home. This research involved the use of a mixed-methods approach, in which both qualitative and quantitative data were collected in three different measurements. Overall, the participants shared good engagement with the integrated platform. The system achieved positive results in terms of both usability and acceptance, especially the smartwatch. The state of complete well-being slightly improved over the period, whereas self-efficacy remained stable. This study demonstrates the ability of target users to use technology independently in their home environment: it strengthens the idea that this technology is ready for mainstream use and offers food for thought for developers who create products for the aging population.
ABSTRACT
(1) Background: The RESILIEN-T system addresses the need for innovative solutions to support self-management in older people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Despite the increasing prevalence of dementia and MCI, there is a lack of tailored solutions for these individuals. The RESILIEN-T system aims to empower and engage people with cognitive decline by providing a modular platform for self-management and coaching services. (2) Methods: Italian data collected for the RESILIEN-T project involved 62 older participants randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. Data were collected through questionnaires and user interactions with the system over a three-month period. (3) Results: Quantitative outcomes showed no significant differences between the intervention and control groups, except for an improvement in perceived memory capability in the intervention group. The usability assessment indicated a high level of acceptance of the RESILIEN-T system. (4) Discussions: Although no significant improvements were observed in most quantitative measures, the high user engagement and acceptance suggest the potential effectiveness of the RESILIEN-T system. Future improvements could involve integrating smart objects and interactive virtual agents. Overall, RESILIEN-T represents a promising step toward empowering individuals with cognitive impairment in their self-management and decision-making processes.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this paper is to describe the results collected with the Italian study conducted within eWare project, aimed at supporting the autonomy and health of the older people affected by dementia and their informal caregivers, through the use of an innovative system based on a social robot and a sensorized environmental infrastructure. Nine dyads of older participants with their caregivers were enrolled in testing the system for 6 months. The results show a positive impact of the system in supporting the achievement of personal goals of the participants, as well as in supporting the quality of life of the informal caregivers. Nevertheless, the impact of the system in reducing the caregivers' burden needs to be deeply investigated. This research highlights the potential of the eWare system but modifications will have to be made, especially on the interactivity capabilities, in order to meet the peculiar needs and wishes of older people with dementia and to favor the long-term use of the system.
