The Use of Smart Speakers in Care Home Residents: Implementation Study
BackgroundThe use of smart speakers to improve well-being had been trialed in social care by others; however, we were not aware of their implementation in most care homes across a region in the Southwest of the United Kingdom. For the widespread adoption of new technology, it...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| Online Access: | https://www.jmir.org/2021/12/e26767 |
| _version_ | 1797735482360070144 |
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| author | Katie J Edwards Ray B Jones Deborah Shenton Toni Page Inocencio Maramba Alison Warren Fiona Fraser Tanja Križaj Tristan Coombe Hazel Cowls Arunangsu Chatterjee |
| author_facet | Katie J Edwards Ray B Jones Deborah Shenton Toni Page Inocencio Maramba Alison Warren Fiona Fraser Tanja Križaj Tristan Coombe Hazel Cowls Arunangsu Chatterjee |
| author_sort | Katie J Edwards |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
BackgroundThe use of smart speakers to improve well-being had been trialed in social care by others; however, we were not aware of their implementation in most care homes across a region in the Southwest of the United Kingdom. For the widespread adoption of new technology, it must be locally demonstrable and become normalized.
ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to install smart speakers in care homes in a rural and coastal region and to explore if and how the devices were being used, the barriers to their implementation, and their potential benefits.
MethodsEmail, workshops, drop-in sessions, phone, and cold calling was used to contact all 230 care homes, offering a free smart speaker and some advisory support. Care homes accepting the devices were asked to complete a feedback diary. Nonresponse rate for diary completion was high and was thus supplemented with a telephone survey.
ResultsOver the course of 7 months, we installed 156 devices in 92 care homes for older people, 50 devices for people with physical or mental health needs, and 8 for others. The devices were used mainly for music but also for poetry, recipes, light controls, jokes, and video calls. Care home managers reported the benefits for the residents, including enhanced engagement with home activities, enjoyment, calming effects, and the acquisition of new skills. Implementation problems included internet connectivity, staff capacity, and skills.
ConclusionsAffordable consumer devices such as smart speakers should be installed in all care homes to benefit residents. Voice-activated technologies are easy to use and promote interaction. This study indicates that implementation in care homes was possible and that smart speakers had multifaceted benefits for residents and staff. Most care homes in this region now use smart speakers for their residents, thereby normalizing this practice. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:59:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-95e142ac0c4a4385ae001528338af3bf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1438-8871 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:59:40Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-95e142ac0c4a4385ae001528338af3bf2023-08-28T20:02:52ZengJMIR PublicationsJournal of Medical Internet Research1438-88712021-12-012312e2676710.2196/26767The Use of Smart Speakers in Care Home Residents: Implementation StudyKatie J Edwardshttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6212-6010Ray B Joneshttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2963-3421Deborah Shentonhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1854-6058Toni Pagehttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9226-6575Inocencio Marambahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5464-6021Alison Warrenhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1529-7586Fiona Fraserhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2010-9746Tanja Križajhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5940-3064Tristan Coombehttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9889-1256Hazel Cowlshttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0670-3781Arunangsu Chatterjeehttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9506-6007 BackgroundThe use of smart speakers to improve well-being had been trialed in social care by others; however, we were not aware of their implementation in most care homes across a region in the Southwest of the United Kingdom. For the widespread adoption of new technology, it must be locally demonstrable and become normalized. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to install smart speakers in care homes in a rural and coastal region and to explore if and how the devices were being used, the barriers to their implementation, and their potential benefits. MethodsEmail, workshops, drop-in sessions, phone, and cold calling was used to contact all 230 care homes, offering a free smart speaker and some advisory support. Care homes accepting the devices were asked to complete a feedback diary. Nonresponse rate for diary completion was high and was thus supplemented with a telephone survey. ResultsOver the course of 7 months, we installed 156 devices in 92 care homes for older people, 50 devices for people with physical or mental health needs, and 8 for others. The devices were used mainly for music but also for poetry, recipes, light controls, jokes, and video calls. Care home managers reported the benefits for the residents, including enhanced engagement with home activities, enjoyment, calming effects, and the acquisition of new skills. Implementation problems included internet connectivity, staff capacity, and skills. ConclusionsAffordable consumer devices such as smart speakers should be installed in all care homes to benefit residents. Voice-activated technologies are easy to use and promote interaction. This study indicates that implementation in care homes was possible and that smart speakers had multifaceted benefits for residents and staff. Most care homes in this region now use smart speakers for their residents, thereby normalizing this practice.https://www.jmir.org/2021/12/e26767 |
| spellingShingle | Katie J Edwards Ray B Jones Deborah Shenton Toni Page Inocencio Maramba Alison Warren Fiona Fraser Tanja Križaj Tristan Coombe Hazel Cowls Arunangsu Chatterjee The Use of Smart Speakers in Care Home Residents: Implementation Study Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| title | The Use of Smart Speakers in Care Home Residents: Implementation Study |
| title_full | The Use of Smart Speakers in Care Home Residents: Implementation Study |
| title_fullStr | The Use of Smart Speakers in Care Home Residents: Implementation Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Use of Smart Speakers in Care Home Residents: Implementation Study |
| title_short | The Use of Smart Speakers in Care Home Residents: Implementation Study |
| title_sort | use of smart speakers in care home residents implementation study |
| url | https://www.jmir.org/2021/12/e26767 |
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