USE OF VIRTUAL ASSISTANT DEVICES TO IMPROVE DEPRESSION IN COGNITIVELY-IMPAIRED HOMEBOUND OLDER ADULTS - Abstract Citation ID igaf122.1994 - Study results on feasibility and acceptance

Sep 29, 2026

Assesses the feasibility and acceptance of virtual assistant devices for cognitively impaired homebound older adults, addressing barriers created by uncertainty and limited understanding of such technologies. A partnership with Meals on Wheels evaluated whether the Amazon Alexa Show 8 could be used appropriately and potentially improve depression in participants aged 60+. The study used a three-phase design combining meal delivery with basic versus advanced device usage and found improved technology acceptance alongside depression and memory associations by study end.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Background and objective

Study design and phases

Outcomes: acceptance, depression, memory

User experience and follow-up pilot

Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 581 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.1994 USE OF VIRTUAL ASSISTANT DEVICES TO IMPROVE DEPRESSION IN COGNITIVELY-IMPAIRED HOMEBOUND OLDER ADULTS Jessica Lee1, Jason Burnett2, Prisha Patel2, and Matthew Nunez2, 1. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, United States, 2. UTHealth Houston, Houston, Texas, United States Technology is progressively playing a larger role in individual health and wellness, with increasing use seen in older adults. However, older adults can face uncertainty and inadequate understanding of the features of such devices. Homebound older adults, in particular, often have cognitive or physical impairments that may heighten barriers to technology use. Therefore, we wanted to assess the feasibility and acceptance of virtual assistant device use in cognitively impaired homebound older adults. We partnered with our local Meals on Wheels to evaluate whether the Amazon Alexa Show 8 (AES8) could be appropriately utilized and potentially improve depression in clients aged 60 and older. Participants went through three phases of the study: 6 weeks of meal deliveries alone (control), followed by 6 weeks of meals+AES8 basic usage, and lastly 6 weeks of meals+AES8 advanced usage. Participants had improvements in technology acceptance and associations with improvements in depression and memory by the end of the study, despite no specific health programming. Participants anecdotally enjoyed being able to play music, set reminders, and access spiritual content on the devices. These results have led to a subsequent pilot study evaluating the feasibility of remote installation of the AES8 with evaluations of loneliness and social isolation. Preliminary data indicates that cognitively intact homebound older adults are successfully able to install the devices with telephone assistance. Being able to reach larger numbers of homebound older adults with these virtual assistant devices, may mean increased potential to improve the mental health of high-needs homebound older adults.

FAQs

What was the main objective of the study?

To assess the feasibility and acceptance of virtual assistant device use in cognitively impaired homebound older adults and determine whether Amazon Alexa Show 8 use could potentially improve depression.

How were participants organized during the trial?

Participants completed three phases: 6 weeks of meal deliveries alone as a control, then 6 weeks with meals plus basic AES8 usage, and finally 6 weeks with meals plus advanced AES8 usage.

Did the virtual assistant devices include specific health programming?

No specific health programming was used, yet participants showed improvements in technology acceptance and associations with improvements in depression and memory by the end of the study.

Sep 29, 2026

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