Implementing Active Assisted Living Technology in the Long-term Care of People Living With Dementia to Address Loneliness: European Survey
BackgroundIn the lives of people with dementia, loneliness is an important issue with psychological and physical consequences. Active assisted living (AAL) technology has been gaining visibility in the care of persons living with dementia, including addressing loneliness. How...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2023-06-01
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| Series: | JMIR Aging |
| Online Access: | https://aging.jmir.org/2023/1/e45231 |
| _version_ | 1797734035878838272 |
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| author | Kübra Beliz Budak Franziska Laporte Uribe Franka Meiland Simone Anna Felding Sonja Teupen Johannes Michael Bergmann Rene Mueller-Widmer Martina Roes |
| author_facet | Kübra Beliz Budak Franziska Laporte Uribe Franka Meiland Simone Anna Felding Sonja Teupen Johannes Michael Bergmann Rene Mueller-Widmer Martina Roes |
| author_sort | Kübra Beliz Budak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundIn the lives of people with dementia, loneliness is an important issue with psychological and physical consequences. Active assisted living (AAL) technology has been gaining visibility in the care of persons living with dementia, including addressing loneliness. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is a lack of evidence concerning the factors influencing the implementation of AAL technology within the context of dementia, loneliness, and long-term care (LTC).
ObjectiveWe aimed to identify the familiarity with AAL technology that is promising for addressing loneliness in persons living with dementia in LTC in Europe and the factors influencing AAL technology implementation.
MethodsA web-based survey was developed based on findings from our previous literature review. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research guided the development and analysis of the survey. Participants included 24 representatives of Alzheimer Europe member associations from 15 European countries. The data were analyzed using basic statistical methods (descriptive statistics).
ResultsThe baby seal robot Paro was reported to be the most familiar AAL technology by 19 of 24 participants addressing loneliness in people with dementia living in LTC. Participants from Norway (n=2) reported familiarity with 14 AAL technologies, and participants from Serbia (n=1) reported zero familiarity. It seems that countries that invest less in LTC facilities are familiar with fewer AAL technologies. At the same time, these countries report a more positive attitude toward AAL technology, express a higher need for it, and see more advantages than disadvantages than those countries that invest more in LTC. However, a country's investment in LTC facilities does not seem to be linked to other implementation aspects such as costs, planning, and the impact of infrastructure.
ConclusionsImplementation of AAL technology to address loneliness in dementia seems to be linked to familiarity with the technology in a country as well as national investment in LTC facilities. This survey confirms the literature on higher investment countries’ critical stance in regard to AAL technology implementation to address loneliness in persons living with dementia living in LTC. Further research is needed to clarify the potential reasons why familiarity with more AAL technology does not seem to be directly linked with acceptance, positive attitude, or satisfaction with AAL technology addressing loneliness in persons living with dementia. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:38:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-79839a3d51914b948969f1e62b0df2e3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2561-7605 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:38:26Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Aging |
| spelling | doaj.art-79839a3d51914b948969f1e62b0df2e32023-08-29T00:03:22ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Aging2561-76052023-06-016e4523110.2196/45231Implementing Active Assisted Living Technology in the Long-term Care of People Living With Dementia to Address Loneliness: European SurveyKübra Beliz Budakhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6786-8678Franziska Laporte Uribehttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5850-7782Franka Meilandhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6219-5390Simone Anna Feldinghttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0074-5841Sonja Teupenhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-3272-7426Johannes Michael Bergmannhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9942-4633Rene Mueller-Widmerhttps://orcid.org/0009-0008-0261-5611Martina Roeshttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4531-8584 BackgroundIn the lives of people with dementia, loneliness is an important issue with psychological and physical consequences. Active assisted living (AAL) technology has been gaining visibility in the care of persons living with dementia, including addressing loneliness. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is a lack of evidence concerning the factors influencing the implementation of AAL technology within the context of dementia, loneliness, and long-term care (LTC). ObjectiveWe aimed to identify the familiarity with AAL technology that is promising for addressing loneliness in persons living with dementia in LTC in Europe and the factors influencing AAL technology implementation. MethodsA web-based survey was developed based on findings from our previous literature review. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research guided the development and analysis of the survey. Participants included 24 representatives of Alzheimer Europe member associations from 15 European countries. The data were analyzed using basic statistical methods (descriptive statistics). ResultsThe baby seal robot Paro was reported to be the most familiar AAL technology by 19 of 24 participants addressing loneliness in people with dementia living in LTC. Participants from Norway (n=2) reported familiarity with 14 AAL technologies, and participants from Serbia (n=1) reported zero familiarity. It seems that countries that invest less in LTC facilities are familiar with fewer AAL technologies. At the same time, these countries report a more positive attitude toward AAL technology, express a higher need for it, and see more advantages than disadvantages than those countries that invest more in LTC. However, a country's investment in LTC facilities does not seem to be linked to other implementation aspects such as costs, planning, and the impact of infrastructure. ConclusionsImplementation of AAL technology to address loneliness in dementia seems to be linked to familiarity with the technology in a country as well as national investment in LTC facilities. This survey confirms the literature on higher investment countries’ critical stance in regard to AAL technology implementation to address loneliness in persons living with dementia living in LTC. Further research is needed to clarify the potential reasons why familiarity with more AAL technology does not seem to be directly linked with acceptance, positive attitude, or satisfaction with AAL technology addressing loneliness in persons living with dementia.https://aging.jmir.org/2023/1/e45231 |
| spellingShingle | Kübra Beliz Budak Franziska Laporte Uribe Franka Meiland Simone Anna Felding Sonja Teupen Johannes Michael Bergmann Rene Mueller-Widmer Martina Roes Implementing Active Assisted Living Technology in the Long-term Care of People Living With Dementia to Address Loneliness: European Survey JMIR Aging |
| title | Implementing Active Assisted Living Technology in the Long-term Care of People Living With Dementia to Address Loneliness: European Survey |
| title_full | Implementing Active Assisted Living Technology in the Long-term Care of People Living With Dementia to Address Loneliness: European Survey |
| title_fullStr | Implementing Active Assisted Living Technology in the Long-term Care of People Living With Dementia to Address Loneliness: European Survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Implementing Active Assisted Living Technology in the Long-term Care of People Living With Dementia to Address Loneliness: European Survey |
| title_short | Implementing Active Assisted Living Technology in the Long-term Care of People Living With Dementia to Address Loneliness: European Survey |
| title_sort | implementing active assisted living technology in the long term care of people living with dementia to address loneliness european survey |
| url | https://aging.jmir.org/2023/1/e45231 |
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