Survey of Mobile Phone Usage Among Patients With Cognitive Impairment

Mobile phones are increasingly being proposed as tools to support daily life among older adults with cognitive impairment; however, empirical data on their actual ownership and use in clinical settings remain limited. This study aimed to clarify mobile phone ownership and usage patterns among older adults with cognitive impairment attending memory clinics. Eighty-two older adults with cognitive impairment (mean age: 80.4 y; mean Mini-Mental State Examination score: 18.1 points) were included. Data were collected using caregiver-administered questionnaires and analyzed descriptively. Among the participants, 65 (79.3%) owned a mobile phone, with an almost equal distribution of smartphones (n=33) and featured phones (n=32). Fifteen phone owners did not use their devices. Reported use was largely limited to basic communication functions. These findings indicate limited mobile phone ownership and functional use among older adults with cognitive impairment and underscore the need to consider cognitive limitations when implementing mobile technologies.