“Like another human being in the room”: a community case study of smart speakers to reduce loneliness in the oldest-old

This community case study examined the potential benefits of smart speakers to tackle loneliness in the oldest old adults living in supported accommodation. The program was established as a collaboration between the supported accommodation provider and a technology company to explore the feasibility of smart speakers to alleviate resident loneliness. Loneliness in later life often accompanies a shrinking social circle, loss of a spouse or increased disability. People aged 85 years of age and over are increasingly likely to experience these life events, leading to an increased risk of social isolation and loneliness. Five older people, mean age 90 years of age, who resided in supported accommodation, were given a smart speaker for 8 weeks to examine their experience with the voice assistant. The experiences of the five older adults are explored as case studies, with each person interviewed both before and after receiving the smart speaker. All five valued their smart speaker, recognised its potential for tackling loneliness, and wanted to keep it. The three most lonely individuals reported that their smart speaker made them feel less lonely and isolated through two mechanisms: (i) creating a presence and (ii) having some control over their situation. Although only a small study, these experiences suggest providing smart speakers for lonely and isolated oldest-old people, could be one way to help combat loneliness in community settings

The main behavioural coding categories and subvariables.

<p>The main behavioural coding categories and subvariables.</p

Communication modalities and sub-behaviours identified for each participant across both Baseline and Adaptive Interaction sessions.

<p>Communication modalities and sub-behaviours identified for each participant across both Baseline and Adaptive Interaction sessions.</p

Number of communicative behaviours per minute between Baseline and Intervention sessions for participant 4.

<p>Number of communicative behaviours per minute between Baseline and Intervention sessions for participant 4.</p

Number of communicative behaviours per minute between Baseline and Intervention sessions for participant 5.

<p>Number of communicative behaviours per minute between Baseline and Intervention sessions for participant 5.</p

The running order of Baseline and Intervention sessions for all participants.

<p>The running order of Baseline and Intervention sessions for all participants.</p

Adapted quality rating criteria for non-randomized controlled trial studies (studies not included in meta-analysis).

Adapted quality rating criteria for non-randomized controlled trial studies (studies not included in meta-analysis).</p

Teaching and learning approaches.

Continuing education for dementia has been shown to be beneficial by improving informal caregiver knowledge, dementia care, management, and caregiver physical and mental health. Technology-based dementia education has been noted to have equivalent effects as in-person education, but with the added benefit of asynchronous and/or remote delivery, which increases accessibility. Using Cochrane review methodology, this study systematically reviewed the literature on technology-based dementia education and its impacts on caregivers. Technology-based delivery included dementia education delivered via the Internet, telephone, telehealth, videophone, computer, or digital video device (DVD). In the review, twenty-eight studies were identified with fourteen included in a meta-analysis, and these data revealed a significant small effect of technologically based dementia education on reducing caregiver depression, and a medium effect on reducing caregiver distress in response to caregivers’ observations of behavioral problems displayed by persons with dementia. No evidence was found for a significant effect of the educational intervention on caregiver burden or self-efficacy, which are known to be gendered aspects of caregiving. None of the studies included in the meta-analysis reported separate outcomes for male and female care providers, which has implications for gendered caregiving norms and aspects of care.Registration number: PROSPERO 2018 CRD42018092599.</div

Depression assessed with: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II).

Depression assessed with: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II).</p

Positive caregiving experience assessed with: Positive Aspects of Caregiving (PAC).

Positive caregiving experience assessed with: Positive Aspects of Caregiving (PAC).</p