Barriers and Benefits to Technology Adoption by Dementia Caregivers
Author Information
Author(s): Simone Patti, Scott Julia, Yueter Sheila, Cepukenas Emma, Himes McKenzie, Anderson Kennedy, Mai An, Grewal Kiren
Primary Institution: Santa Clara University
Hypothesis
What are the barriers and benefits to technology adoption among caregivers of people with dementia?
Conclusion
Caregivers feel inadequately supported and rely minimally on technology despite its potential to reduce stress and improve caregiving.
Supporting Evidence
- 53% of caregivers identified access to resources as their most important unmet need.
- 64% of caregivers reported significant emotional struggle and conflict associated with caregiving.
- Three-quarters of survey respondents reported using some technological tools for caregiving.
Takeaway
Caregivers of people with dementia need better access to resources and support, and while some use technology, many find it hard to adopt new tools.
Methodology
An anonymous online survey was conducted with caregivers, followed by didactic interviews with a subset of respondents.
Limitations
The study may not represent all caregivers as it was limited to specific regions and a small sample size.
Participant Demographics
Caregivers from California and Washington, with a focus on those caring for individuals with dementia.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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