Digital Ties for Older Adults during Visitation Restrictions in Long-term Care Facilities: A Systematic Scoping Review (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Digital technologies were implemented to address long-term care facility residents’ disrupted socialization needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. A literature review regarding this topic is needed to inform public policy, facility’s managers, family caregivers, and nurses/allies health professionals involved in mediating the use of digital devices for resident’s social ties. OBJECTIVE Our study outlines key concepts, methodologies, results, issues, and gaps in articles published during pandemic-related visitation restrictions. METHODS Following the PRISMA-ScR protocol, we conducted a systematic scoping review of articles published in peer-reviewed journals from early 2020 to end of June 2021, when the most stringent restrictions were in place. Among 763 screened articles, 29 met our selection criteria. RESULTS The results address three main aspects: the impact and expectations of digital technologies on health and quality of life, people involved in the exchanges, and limitations preventing significant contact. The findings highlight the plurality of ties to consider, show the need to support both face-to-face and remote contact, evaluate their complementarity, and outline emerging avenues to enable meaningful remote social ties. CONCLUSIONS To go beyond the digital solutionism risk, future research and public policies should consider the holistic impact on health regarding the implementation of digital technologies, including the meaning residents give to interpersonal exchanges and the organizational constraints.