New approaches to developing technologies for older adults with Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Designing technologies to support older adults with Alzheimer's disease (AD) poses complex challenges. The special needs of each specific user must be taken into account, requiring a user-centered design approach. However, this approach is currently achieved through a lengthy, iterative design process, which often is costly, disruptive to the end user, and time consuming. As such, involving older adults with AD in this process is virtually impossible. In response, we have started to explore new approaches in the design of technologies for older adults with AD. One such approach is the use of actors who can simulate AD-related behaviors in our design process. In order to be successful, the actors must be able to believably simulate AD and interact with prototype technology in the same manner that a person with AD would. A pilot study was conducted that paired six professional older adult actors with six older adults with moderate-to-severe AD. The actors trained on video footage of people with AD engaging in the activity of handwashing. The actors completed handwashing for two conditions: 1) 20 trials with assistance from a human caregiver; and 2) 20 trials with assistance from an automated guidance system, specifically the COACH prompting system. Video clips of both the actors and people with AD performing handwashing with caregiver assistance were randomly shown to 11 professional caregivers, who were asked to rate their believability. Statistical analysis did not find a significant difference between the believability of the actor or person with AD groups, thus indicating that the actors were as believable as the actual older adults with AD. In addition, analysis of the trials where the automated guidance system was used showed similar reactions to the technology from both groups. This pilot work suggests that using professional older adult actors to optimize assistive technologies for older adults with dementia may constitute a viable alternative to clinical trials alone. If so, this approach could result in significant savings in terms of development time, costs, and demands on the clinical population.