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New research fields to design social robots for older people are emerging. By providing support with communication and social interaction, these robots aim to increase quality of life. Because of the decline in functioning due to cognitive impairment in older people, social robots are regarded as promising, especially for people with dementia. Although study outcomes are hopeful, the quality of studies on the effectiveness of social robots for the elderly is still low due to many methodological limitations. We aimed to review the methodologies used thus far in studies evaluating the feasibility, usability, efficacy, and effectiveness of social robots in clinical and social settings for elderly people, including persons with dementia. Dedicated search strings were developed. Searches in MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, PsycInfo, and CINAHL were performed on August 13, 2020. In the 33 included papers, 23 different social robots were investigated for their feasibility, usability, efficacy, and effectiveness. A total of 8 (24.2%) studies included elderly persons in the community, 9 (27.3%) included long-term care facility residents, and 16 (48.5%) included people with dementia. Most of the studies had a single aim, of which 7 (21.2%) focused on efficacy and 7 (21.2%) focused on effectiveness. Moreover, forms of randomized controlled trials were the most applied designs. Feasibility and usability were often studied together in mixed methods or experimental designs and were most often studied in individual interventions. Feasibility was often assessed with the Unified Theory of the Acceptance and Use of Technology model. Efficacy and effectiveness studies used a range of psychosocial and cognitive outcome measures. However, the included studies failed to find significant improvements in quality of life, depression, and cognition. This study identified several shortcomings in methodologies used to evaluate social robots, resulting in ambivalent study findings. To improve the quality of these types of studies, efficacy/effectiveness studies will benefit from appropriate randomized controlled trial designs with large sample sizes and individual intervention sessions. Experimental designs might work best for feasibility and usability studies. For each of the 3 goals (efficacy/effectiveness, feasibility, and usability) we also recommend a mixed method of data collection. Multiple interaction sessions running for at least 1 month might aid researchers in drawing significant results and prove the real long-term impact of social robots.

Objective To provide high-quality elderly care, digital health technologies (DHTs) can potentially assist in reaching the full capacity of comprehensive geriatric assessments (CGAs) to improve communication and data transfer on patients’ medical and treatment plan information and health decision-making. This systematic review aimed to describe the evidence on the feasibility and usability, efficacy and effectiveness, and implementation outcomes of DHTs developed to facilitate the administration of CGAs for long-term care settings or community care and to describe their technical features and components. Methods A search strategy was conducted in three databases, targeting studies evaluating the DHTs facilitating the administration of CGAs used in long-term care settings or community care. Studies in English and Spanish published up to 5 April 2023 were considered. Results Four DHTs supporting the administration of the CGAs were identified. Limited information was found on the technical features and required hardware. Some of the barriers identified regarding usability can be overcome with novel technologies; however, training of health professionals on the assessments and staff knowledge regarding the purpose of the data collected are not technology related and need to be addressed. Conclusions Barriers regarding usability were related to experienced difficulties navigating the software, unstable network connectivity, and length of the assessment. Feasibility obstacles were associated with the lack of training to use the DHT, availability and accessibility to hardware (e.g. laptops), and lack of insight into the clinical benefits of collected data. Further research must focus on these areas to improve the implementation and usefulness of these DHTs.

Background:Comprehensive Geriatric Assessments (CGAs) incorporate the key principles of integrated care delivery, which is regarded as the most effective approach of care provisioning to face challenges of dementia care, such as uncoordinated care, risk of hospitalizations, care planning and unmet needs. For this reason, implementing CGAs in care practice might be highly relevant, however, to do so, we must consider their psychometric characteristics.Research Objective:To provide insight into the content and the reliability and validity of CGAs used in long-term care and home care settings.Method:A search strategy was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science, targeting studies that have focused on the validity and reliability of available CGAs for long-term and home care settings. Studies in English and Spanish and published up to July 13, 2021, were considered.Preliminary results of the ongoing study:A total of 72 studies reporting on the validity/reliability of 13 different CGAs were identified. For long-term care facilities, five CGAs were reported; for home care, eight assessment tools were targeted. Most of the CGAs covered a wide range of domains, such as Physical Health, Functional, Mental Health, and Social Status. Evidence for good to excellent validity and reliability was reported for various instruments.Conclusion:Resident Assessment Instrument-Minimum Data Set (RAI-MDS) and subsequent updated instruments reported strong evidence of good to excellent validity and reliability for multiple countries. For this reason, interRAI LTCF and interRAI HC are recommended to be use for long-term and home care facilities, as they are the latest versions of the RAI-MDS.This project is part of the Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions Innovative Training Network H2020-MSCA-ITN, under grant agreement number 813196

Abstract Learning to live with a diagnosis of dementia is a complex process. Many people affected by dementia choose not to disclose the diagnosis to others and avoid social activities due to fear of others' adverse reactions. This in turn can limit their social participation and negatively affect their psychosocial health. A systematic review explored factors influencing the decision to disclose or conceal a dementia diagnosis to one's social network, including individuals' attitudes and experiences regarding this decision. The sixteen studies included reveal the complexity of this decision. Findings highlight the role of stigma and individuals' wishes to remain 'normal', but also the need of explaining what has changed. Results were further discussed with people with dementia and informal caregivers as part of patient and public involvement. End users expressed their attitudes, needs, and wishes towards the design of an online empowerment intervention supporting disclosure decision-making in people affected by dementia.

Background:Health systems are in the need for novel approaches to tackle the challenges from the demographic transition to ageing populations. An effective approach to face these challenges is integrated care delivery. Implementing Comprehensive Geriatric Assessments (CGAs) in Health Ageing might be highly relevant to incorporate this approach. However, this implementation should be supported by Digital Health Interventions (DHIs) in order to reach their full capacity.Research Objective:To identify the DHIs facilitating the administration of CGAs used in long-term care and home care settings and provide an insight on their characteristics and stage of maturity and evaluation.Method:A search strategy was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science, targeting studies evaluating the DHIs facilitating the administration of CGAs used in long-term care and home care settings. Studies in English and Spanish and published up to July 26, 2021 were considered.Preliminary results of the ongoing study:A total of four papers describing three digital platforms supporting the administration of the CGAs were identified. Information on implementation reported less completion of some sections affecting the CGAs outcomes, assessments mostly being the responsibility of nurses, and missing data related with less quality of care. Limitations and barriers regarding their usability and feasibility were also identified.Conclusion:The inclusion of safe data storage, automatic notifications for assessment completion, automatic calculation of final outcomes, and facilitation of multidisciplinary assessments, were identified as key features to enhance the implementation of digital platforms facilitating the administration of CGAs. Nonetheless, information regarding technical features and hardware information of the digital platforms was scarce.This project is part of the Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions Innovative Training Network H2020-MSCA-ITN, under grant agreement number 813196

Background The rapid transition to digital working, accelerated due to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has impacted the involvement of patients and public in research. This paper presents experiences of engaging in digital Patient and Public Involvement (e-PPI) in dementia research since the lockdowns, offering recommendations regarding future digital and hybrid working. Furthermore, it introduces a co-produced framework for researchers, PPI coordinators and public contributors to identify and discuss challenges and opportunities provided by e-PPI. Methods Two online workshops and one individual interview were performed with a group of researchers and PPI coordinators with experience in PPI in dementia research, and with an existing dementia PPI group having some experience of working online during the pandemic. The project was constructed as a PPI activity, with the MindTech Involvement Team (PPI group) involved in the entire process, and a collaborative data analysis process was adopted. Results After refinement of the coding structure, the MindTech Involvement Team and Project Leaders identified four main themes, resulting in the ‘E-nabling Digital Co-production' Framework. During this framework development, different positions were expressed, associated with the transition to digital working. Two main themes were shared by the participating groups regarding e-PPI: wider potential reach without geographical constraints, and the perception of more business-like sessions with reduced opportunities for social interactions and communication. Specifically for dementia research, whilst e-PPI may allow public contributors to attend more meetings, potentially mutually supportive environments provided by face-to-face meetings could be diminished, with carers experiencing a possible reduction in informal respite opportunities. Conclusions Through involving public contributors, researchers, and PPI coordinators with a focus on digital PPI in dementia research, we were able to further refine and co-produce the ‘E-nabling Digital Co-production' Framework. Demonstrating potential for analysis of benefits and limitations within e-PPI, it was possible to identify both general insights and those specific to dementia research. However, the most significant contribution of the framework is the potential to support local journeys of co-production in ongoing digital and hybrid public involvement activities. Plain English Summary The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the engagement of patients and the public in research. Lockdowns, social distancing, and reduced physical contact have affected the involvement of public contributors in research studies. In particular, the pandemic triggered a rapid transition to digital working, increasing the use of Information and Communication Technologies such as video conferencing on computers and mobile devices. With little time to reflect on the consequences of digital working in PPI and with a continuing legacy of hybrid or blended approaches to involvement, this project highlights the challenges and potential for e-PPI approaches (electronic/digital PPI) within the context of dementia research. In addition to examining the transition to digital working in this area, we present a co-produced framework for researchers, PPI coordinators and public contributors.