What makes technology feel helpful rather than burdensome to older adults with mild cognitive impairment?

Details

Existing everyday technology and possible future technology can offer both challenges and possibilities for the everyday activities of people with cognitive decline. Their own perspectives are an important starting point for planning technology-related interventions that meet their wishes and needs.

The study explored how people with mild cognitive impairment relate to technology as part of everyday life and as potential support, both now and in the future. Qualitative in-depth interviews with six participants aged 61–86 were conducted and analyzed using a grounded theory approach.

Participants' ways of relating to existing and potential future technology in everyday activities formed a continuum of downsizing, retaining, and updating. Multiple conditions, in different combinations, affected both the actions they took and the assumptions they made about technology along this continuum.

Whether reducing activities and technology use to simplify everyday life or striving for or struggling with updating, participants made trade-offs between desired and adverse outcomes. They endured challenging initial stages and negotiated what price was worth paying.

The findings suggest that people with mild cognitive impairment may relate to technology in various ways to meet their needs for doing less, but are reluctant to adopt video-based monitoring technology intended to support activities they value.

The researchers suggest feasibility testing of everyday technologies already incorporated into daily life, such as smartphones and tablets, as platforms for future technological support for everyday activities.