Socially focused intelligent assistive technologies for caregiving for homebound older adults with cognitive impairment: a scoping review

Being homebound with cognitive impairment (CI) presents major public health challenges, increasing home healthcare costs and contributing to caregiver burden, social isolation, and reduced quality of life. As loneliness and social isolation rise among this population, socially focused intelligent assistive technologies (SFIATs) have emerged as increasingly viable solutions. This scoping review examined the current body of literature on SFIATs and the barriers and facilitators to their support of homebound older adults with CI and their caregivers.

Using Arksey and O'Malley's framework, we searched 12 databases with MeSH terms related to older adults, CI, SFIATs, and homebound status. Data were analyzed descriptively using themes, with findings mapped across the socioecological framework.

Nineteen studies conducted in 12 high-income countries were included. Robots, tablets, telephones, computers, virtual avenues, and other smart devices were among the SFIATs utilized in caregiving for older individuals who were homebound or had CI. SFIATs facilitated social interaction, engagement, and connectedness among older adults and caregivers. Challenges and benefits associated with their use were evident at individual, interpersonal, community, organizational, and policy levels.

Research suggests significant potential in SFIATs, but their implementation faces multi-level challenges, often due to limited direct input from end-users, leading to concerns that impact their utilization. SFIAT development must adopt co-creation approaches to ensure its contextual appropriateness. Further research is needed, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, to understand the landscape, benefits, and challenges of SFIATs in diverse global settings.