JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Modern technologies, including smartphone apps, have the potential to assist people with cognitive impairment with activities of daily living, allowing them to maintain their independence and reduce carer burden. However, such tools have seen a slow rate of uptake in this population, and data on acceptability of assistive technologies in this population are limited.

Objective:

This study explored older adults with cognitive impairment and their carers’ perceived needs for and acceptability of an app that was designed to be a simple assistive tool for activities of daily living. In particular, this study aimed to assess acceptability of common app functions such as communication, reminder, navigation, and emergency tools in this population, and compare patients’ and carers’ responses to them.

Methods:

Twenty-four German participants with mild cognitive impairment or dementia and their family carers separately completed two short questionnaires. The participants’ levels of cognitive impairment and their and their carers’ affinity to technology were self-rated in the first questionnaire. Following a demonstration of the app, participants rated the usability and acceptability of the app and its functions in a second questionnaire.

Results:

Participants rated themselves as much less cognitively impaired than their carers did, and insight into the level of support they received was low. Both the participants and their carers had low affinity to technology, and even after the demonstration, the participants had low interest in using the app. Breaking acceptability responses down by app function revealed that participants were more amenable to functions such as reminders and the emergency feature, and a wearable form of the app, that were close to the aids they already used or supported their independence. Features that centred around carers monitoring their movements were reported to be less acceptable.

Conclusions:

This study highlights the importance of a focus on acceptability in the development of assistive apps and technology for older adults with cognitive impairment. Patients showed an aversion to functions they perceived as eroding their independence, such as monitoring features, while functions that more closely aligned with their currently used aids were perceived to be more acceptable.