[Paper Review] Bridging the Gap: Advancements in Technology to Support Dementia Care -- A Scoping Review

Yong Ma, Oda Elise Nordberg+5 more|arXiv (Cornell University)|Apr 15, 2024

Aging, Elder Care, and Social Issues4 citations

TL;DR

This scoping review analyzes 133 HCI-focused studies (2010–2023) to categorize and evaluate technologies supporting dementia care, identifying six key domains: daily life monitoring, daily life support, social interaction, well-being enhancement, cognitive support, and caregiver support. It highlights wearable sensors, mobile apps, VR, AI, and robotics as transformative tools that enhance independence, reduce caregiver burden, and improve quality of life, while emphasizing ethical design and future research needs in underrepresented areas like cognitive support and real-world implementation.

ABSTRACT

Dementia has serious consequences for the daily life of the person affected due to the decline in the their cognitive, behavioral and functional abilities. Caring for people living with dementia can be challenging and distressing. Innovative solutions are becoming essential to enrich the lives of those impacted and alleviate caregiver burdens. This scoping review, spanning literature from 2010 to July 2023 in the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), offers a comprehensive look at how interactive technology contributes to dementia care. Emphasizing technology's role in addressing the unique needs of people with dementia (PwD) and their caregivers, this review encompasses assistive devices, mobile applications, sensors, and GPS tracking. Delving into challenges encountered in clinical and home-care settings, it succinctly outlines the influence of cutting-edge technologies, such as wearables, virtual reality, robots, and artificial intelligence, in supporting individuals with dementia and their caregivers. We categorize current dementia-related technologies into six groups based on their intended use and function: 1) daily life monitoring, 2) daily life support, 3) social interaction and communication, 4) well-being enhancement, 5) cognitive support, and 6) caregiver support.

Motivation & Objective

• To map the current landscape of interactive technologies in dementia care through a comprehensive review of HCI literature.
• To identify and categorize technology types based on their functional purpose in supporting people with dementia (PwD) and their caregivers.
• To evaluate the impact and challenges of emerging technologies such as wearables, AI, VR, and robotics in clinical and home-care settings.
• To highlight ethical considerations and gaps in research, particularly in cognitive support and real-world deployment.
• To guide future research by outlining a structured research agenda across six technology categories for improved dementia care outcomes.

Proposed method

• Conducted a systematic literature search in ACM and IEEE databases from 2010 to July 2023 using PRISMA and PICO frameworks.
• Screened and selected 133 relevant papers based on inclusion criteria focused on human-computer interaction and dementia care technologies.
• Categorized technologies into six functional domains: daily life monitoring, daily life support, social interaction and communication, well-being enhancement, cognitive support, and caregiver support.
• Analyzed technology types including wearable sensors, mobile health apps, GPS tracking, virtual reality, robotics, and AI-driven systems based on their design, function, and reported outcomes.
• Synthesized findings on usability, acceptability, and ethical implications, with emphasis on real-world applicability and long-term impact.
• Identified research gaps and future directions through thematic analysis of limitations and emerging trends in the literature.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 What types of interactive technologies are currently being developed and evaluated to support people with dementia and their caregivers?
• RQ2 How do different technology categories (e.g., monitoring, cognitive support, social interaction) contribute to improving quality of life and reducing care burden?
• RQ3 What are the key challenges and ethical concerns associated with deploying assistive technologies in dementia care settings?
• RQ4 How do emerging technologies like AI, wearables, and VR contribute to early detection, cognitive support, and daily functioning in dementia?
• RQ5 What are the most under-researched but promising technology domains in dementia care, and what future research directions are needed?

Key findings

• The review identified six primary technology categories: daily life monitoring, daily life support, social interaction and communication, well-being enhancement, cognitive support, and caregiver support.
• Wearable sensors and mobile health applications were frequently used for continuous monitoring of behavior, movement, and health metrics, enabling early detection and personalized care.
• Virtual reality and AI-driven systems showed promise in cognitive stimulation and memory recall, with prototypes like Rewind and NeuralGait demonstrating potential for passive gait and memory assessment.
• Technologies focused on well-being enhancement and social interaction were among the most researched, indicating growing recognition of emotional and psychosocial needs in dementia care.
• Despite their potential, cognitive support technologies received comparatively less attention in recent literature, highlighting a significant research gap.
• Caregiver support technologies, including training tools and remote monitoring systems, were shown to reduce stress and improve care quality, especially for informal family caregivers with limited healthcare experience.