Dissertation

Understanding Attitudes and Preferences Regarding Technology to Support Prospective Memory Among Older Adults with Subjective Cognitive Impairment

Sanders, Edie C

2024

Overview

Prospective memory (PM), the ability to remember to execute an intention in the future, is critical for the performance of everyday tasks important for independence and quality of life. PM failures are associated with negative health, financial, and social outcomes, and are more frequent with increased age and can be even greater for older adults with a cognitive impairment such as subjective cognitive decline (SCD). Technology holds promise for providing everyday PM support for older adults with cognitive impairment, but little is known regarding their attitudes and preferences toward technology-based PM support. The present work utilized an online survey and focus groups to examine the attitudes of older adults with SCD toward technologies to support PM. 188 older adults with SCD and 190 older adults without SCD completed an online survey and answered questions about a variety of technologies to support PM in different activity areas. A separate sample of 24 older adults with SCD participated in online focus groups and were probed about their perception of the use of technology devices for supporting PM, benefits they feel they might derive from these devices, and potential costs or barriers to using them. Results show that the attitudes of older adults with SCD 1) differed based on the type of device and the type of activity the technology is meant to support, 2) were more positive than those of older adults without SCD, and 3) were associated with individual difference factors such as attitudes toward technology in general, technology proficiency, frequency of memory failures, health, and age. Results suggest that older adults with SCD might prefer using mobile apps relative to other devices and technology to support healthcare relative to other activities. Older adults with SCD also showed privacy concerns related to voice-activated assistants and using technology to manage finances. Results indicate that older adults with SCD may be a promising population to target using technology-based solutions, and the type of device and type of activity being supported are important to consider in the development of technology solutions to enhance independence and well-being.

• Publisher: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
• Subject: Aging / Cognitive psychology / Gerontology / Information Technology
• ISBN: 9798382788159