Interventions Using Technologies for Older Adults in Long-term Care Facilities: A Systematic Review

Purpose: Although innovative interventions using technologies have been introduced in long-term care settings, available evidence is still anecdotal. The purpose of this study is to investigate and synthesize the outcomes of interventions using technologies delivered to nursing home residents. Methods: Published clinical trials were identified through PubMed, CINHAL, Cochrane and PsycINFO databases and manually hand-searching. Eligible studies were articles published between 1997-2016 in English or Korean with a randomized controlled trial or quasi-experimental design in which interventions using technologies were delivered to nursing home residents. Results: A total of 20 studies were selected for this review. Types of interventions using technologies were classified into the electronic documentation technology (n=1), the clinical decision support system (n=1), the safety technology (n=1), the health and wellness technology (n=10), and the social connectedness technology (n=7). Overall resident outcomes indicated that interventions using technologies improved behavioral symptoms and psycho-social outcomes, but mixed results were shown in the aspects of physical function, cognitive function, social relationship and quality of service. Conclusion: This review demonstrates that incorporating technologies into nursing home care have positive effects on residents’ psycho-social outcomes and behavioral symptoms. To disseminate the effectiveness of interventions using technologies, further research is needed to determine what mechanisms underlying such relationships exist.