IDENTIFYING CARE ACTIVITIES THAT WERE SUPPORTED BY AMAZON ECHO FOR CARE PARTNERS AFTER ONSET OF COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT

Abstract There are several important challenges when addressing the needs of older adults with cognitive impairment and their care partners including the potential for diminishing emotional well-being and loss of autonomy, which could potentially lead to a lower overall quality of life for both care partners (CPs). The motivation of this study was to identify the care activities that were supported by home based technology for care partners after the onset of cognitive impairment. This work was done through gathering multiple sources of qualitative and quantitative data, including mobile application dialogue history logs, pre and post interviews, user feedback groups and home visits. The technology deployed in the home of the care partners was a Voice User Interface Intelligent Agent, specifically the Amazon Echo with its intelligent agent “Alexa.” This technology was selected because it was not built from a traditional care model, yet embodies functions that could be used for all potential forms of care, including those that achieve a higher level of quality of life goals for care partners. From this study, we can further our understanding of how to deploy and design technology that shifts the perspective from “cure to care” with a focus on the older person and their lived experience, monitoring wellness, and not just addressing illness. Results and findings indicated that daily care activities of dyads that are seemingly fundamental are actually complex care activities that emerge from using the technology that support the care partners on multiple levels in satisfying multiple needs.

le and low cost communication technologies that are associated with enhanced feelings of social connection and reduced loneliness in younger age groups.This paper examines whether similar benefits might arise for adults at older ages.Using a four-week social media training workshop as a randomized, controlled wait-list intervention, this study examines whether social benefits are realized among a group of novice social media users, aged 65+.Measures of social well-being, including social capital, loneliness, social connectedness, and social provisions, were assessed at pre-and multiple post-test intervals for differences related to social media learning.Findings revealed only small differences between groups in one dimension of social connectedness, that of social integration.As these findings seemingly contradict studies conducted with younger persons, the contexts of social media use in older adulthood are discussed.These include the relevance of lower social media

doption rates, as well as influences that intersect with an older person's life stage, s
ch as gaps in network coverage on technological platforms, perceptions of the value of weak connections, and a reduced digital skills base.These additional factors are relevant to understanding disparity in the benefits that can be obtained through the use of social media and highlight the differing needs that social media fulfill at varying life stages.


USE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY AND MEMORY PERFORMANCE IN OLDER ADULTS: WHICH COMES FIRST?

Eun Young Choi, 1 and Elizabeth M. Zelinski 1 , 1. Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States

The topic of older adults' information and communication technology (ICT) use looms large because of the beneficial effects of ICT use on physical health, emotional well-being, and social engagement.Previous research has shown that memory performance is also linked with ICT use, but the direction of influence is yet to be determined.Individuals with higher levels of memory function are more likely to use ICT devices, but ICT use may have protective effects on maintaining memory because using technologies includes mental exercises.The current study examined the temporal sequence of ICT use and memory performance, which can provide insight into the causation.Using three waves (2013, 2015, and 2017) from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), a total of 4,048 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 and above were selected for the analysis.Memory performance was measured by summing scores of immediate and delayed word recall.Reciprocal 5-year lagged associations between ICT use and memory were examined, while controlling for age, gender, education, racial/ethnic minority status, and depressive symptoms.The final model showed adequate fit indices (CFI = .979and RMSEA = .038).Word recall significantly predicted ICT use in later years.Reciprocally, greater use of I

was significantly associated with better memory
erformance in following years.The effect of ICT use on memory p

formance was of greater
agnitude in comparison with memory as a predictor for ICT use.These results suggest that ICT can have potential benefits for maintaining memory in old age.


EXAMINING DISCREPANCIES IN SOCIAL ROBOT VERSUS HUMAN ASSESSMENTS OF GERIATRIC WELL-BEING

Erin Harrington, 1 Ha Do, 1 Alex J. Bishop, 1 Celinda Reese-Melancon, 1 and Weihua Sheng 1 , 1. Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States Socially assistive robotic (SAR) technologies represent a viable tool for monitoring the safety and health of older adults.However, it is unclear whether SARs can comprehensively screen geriatric well-being as effectively as trained human clinicians.The purpose of this study was to compare SAR versus human assessment of geriatric well-being.Participants included 30 older adults (Mage = 73.40,SD = 7.88) who completed a robot-administered well-being assessment session during which human-administered evaluation was simultaneously performed.Standardized clinical screening assessment tools common in geriatric care were administered (e.g., Short Blessed Test (SBT), UCLA Loneliness Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, PHQ-4, Iowa Fatigue Scale, Fall Risk).Multiple dependent sample t-tests were used to explore variability in assessment scores between SAR and human evaluation.Assessment scores significantly differed on several measures, including the SBT (t(29) = -9.33,p < .001),UCLA Loneliness scale (t(19) = 2.37, p < .05), and fall risk assessment (t(29) = 3.03, p < .01).Specifically, the SAR indicated that older adults were significantly more cognitively impaired, less lonely, and more likely to fall compared to the human administrator.Other observed differences and hypothe

zed explanations will be discussed in greater detail.The current study indicates that there is a divergence
in geriatric assessment outcomes based on human versus SA

administration.Findings have implications relative to further developing SAR technology to align
ith human-based evaluations to enhance cognitive well-being, social connectedness, and falls prevention.


DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS REGARDING MENTAL HEALTH MOBILE APPS AMONG OLDER VETERANS

Ashley Scales, 1 Julia Loup, 2 Christine Juang, 3 Erin Sakai, 3 Flora Ma, 4 and Christine E. Gould 5 , 1. VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, United States, 2. University of Alabama, Department of Psychology,Tuscaloosa,Alabama,United States,3. VA Palo Alto,Palo Alto,California,United States,4. Palo Alto University,Palo Alto,California,United States,5. VA Palo Alto Health Care System,Palo Alto,United States The number of older adults using mobile devices has doubled over recent years; however, many need assistance in learning how to use their device.To address this gap, we developed patient education materials teaching older Veterans how to download apps and the basics of mobile device and app use.For example, we developed stepby-step guides for three Veteran Affairs mobile apps that target mental health symptoms.Material development involved feedback from providers and older Veterans using a multi-step mixed methods evaluation process.Local
 Innovation inAging, 2019, Vol. 3, No. S1