Presentation
Enhancing Quality of Life for Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Needs Assessment Study
DescriptionUnderstanding the daily challenges faced by older adults with cognitive impairment is a
critical step in developing strategies to support their health and quality of life. Cognitive
impairment, especially in older adults, presents a complex set of challenges that may lead to
difficulties in completing various day-to-day activities. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a
condition where individuals experience mild changes in their cognitive ability, but which is not
severe enough to warrant a diagnosis of dementia. However, individuals with MCI are at an
increased risk of developing dementia. While individuals with MCI are able to complete
activities of daily living with relative independence, they may experience limitations in carrying
out complex instrumental activities of daily living (e.g., managing medications). However, these
limitations are not well understood. We have conducted an in-depth needs assessment study to
characterize and understand the nature of difficulties encountered in the execution of these daily
activities by older adults with MCI.
The Everyday Needs Assessment for Cognitive Tasks (ENACT) Study is a longitudinal
needs assessment of community-dwelling older adults living with various types of cognitive
impairment with self-reported difficulties performing a range of activities in five domains:
health, social engagement, transportation, domestic life, and leisure and recreation (Lydon et al.,
2023). In this presentation, we will focus on older adults with MCI aged 60 years or older,
recruited from the Midwestern region of the United States, and activities in the health domain.
To characterize the self-reported difficulties older adults with MCI face in performing health
activities, we employed a needs assessment approach, recognized for its effectiveness in
identifying unmet needs and guiding the development of interventions or technologies to support
older adults (Boot et al., 2020). We asked participants to rate the level of difficulty they
experienced during health activities and subsequently conducted in-depth interviews to explore
the underlying reasons behind these difficulties as related to memory, planning, organizing, and
communication challenges. Additionally, we examined the response strategies adopted by
participants to overcome their challenges, including the use of visual reminders, technology,
personal habits, or seeking assistance from others.
The findings from our study highlight the multifaceted nature of the challenges faced by
older adults with MCI. Participants reported varying degrees of difficulty across the activities of
the health domain. Our investigation revealed that memory and executive functioning deficits
played a pivotal role in contributing to the perceived difficulties encountered by participants.
Participants frequently described issues related to remembering appointments, names, and
following multi-step instructions as common challenges associated with their cognitive
impairment. The findings also highlighted the diverse coping strategies employed by participants
to manage their difficulties. Visual reminders, including notes and calendars, emerged as a
common tool, alongside the utilization of technology, the establishment of daily routines, and
seeking assistance from family members or caregivers. These coping strategies represent the
adaptive nature of older adults with MCI in managing their daily lives despite cognitive
limitations.
The design of interventions and technology solutions for older adults with MCI thus have
potential to support their independence in daily activities. Such designs must prioritize usability
and accessibility. Interfaces should be intuitive, with features that accommodate cognitive
impairments. This includes clear and simple instructions, legible and appropriately sized text,
user-friendly navigation, and consideration of various cognitive abilities. By ensuring that
technology is user-centered and accessible, we can facilitate its effective adoption and utilization
by older adults with MCI.
Further, the prevalence of memory and planning difficulties highlighted that solutions
should prioritize features that support memory recall and task organization. Examples include
smartphone apps with reminder functionalities, wearable devices tailored to cognitive needs, and
intuitive reminder systems. The development of such technology can potentially enhance the
daily lives of individuals with MCI, promoting independence and reducing cognitive burden.
This presentation underscores the importance of conducting needs assessments as a
foundational step in human factors/ergonomics research. The takeaways from our study have the
potential to positively impact the lives of older adults with MCI and their caregivers,
contributing to a more inclusive and supportive society for all. As we move forward, it is
imperative that we continue to prioritize the needs and well-being of older adults, particularly
those facing cognitive challenges, to ensure they can lead fulfilling and independent lives.
critical step in developing strategies to support their health and quality of life. Cognitive
impairment, especially in older adults, presents a complex set of challenges that may lead to
difficulties in completing various day-to-day activities. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a
condition where individuals experience mild changes in their cognitive ability, but which is not
severe enough to warrant a diagnosis of dementia. However, individuals with MCI are at an
increased risk of developing dementia. While individuals with MCI are able to complete
activities of daily living with relative independence, they may experience limitations in carrying
out complex instrumental activities of daily living (e.g., managing medications). However, these
limitations are not well understood. We have conducted an in-depth needs assessment study to
characterize and understand the nature of difficulties encountered in the execution of these daily
activities by older adults with MCI.
The Everyday Needs Assessment for Cognitive Tasks (ENACT) Study is a longitudinal
needs assessment of community-dwelling older adults living with various types of cognitive
impairment with self-reported difficulties performing a range of activities in five domains:
health, social engagement, transportation, domestic life, and leisure and recreation (Lydon et al.,
2023). In this presentation, we will focus on older adults with MCI aged 60 years or older,
recruited from the Midwestern region of the United States, and activities in the health domain.
To characterize the self-reported difficulties older adults with MCI face in performing health
activities, we employed a needs assessment approach, recognized for its effectiveness in
identifying unmet needs and guiding the development of interventions or technologies to support
older adults (Boot et al., 2020). We asked participants to rate the level of difficulty they
experienced during health activities and subsequently conducted in-depth interviews to explore
the underlying reasons behind these difficulties as related to memory, planning, organizing, and
communication challenges. Additionally, we examined the response strategies adopted by
participants to overcome their challenges, including the use of visual reminders, technology,
personal habits, or seeking assistance from others.
The findings from our study highlight the multifaceted nature of the challenges faced by
older adults with MCI. Participants reported varying degrees of difficulty across the activities of
the health domain. Our investigation revealed that memory and executive functioning deficits
played a pivotal role in contributing to the perceived difficulties encountered by participants.
Participants frequently described issues related to remembering appointments, names, and
following multi-step instructions as common challenges associated with their cognitive
impairment. The findings also highlighted the diverse coping strategies employed by participants
to manage their difficulties. Visual reminders, including notes and calendars, emerged as a
common tool, alongside the utilization of technology, the establishment of daily routines, and
seeking assistance from family members or caregivers. These coping strategies represent the
adaptive nature of older adults with MCI in managing their daily lives despite cognitive
limitations.
The design of interventions and technology solutions for older adults with MCI thus have
potential to support their independence in daily activities. Such designs must prioritize usability
and accessibility. Interfaces should be intuitive, with features that accommodate cognitive
impairments. This includes clear and simple instructions, legible and appropriately sized text,
user-friendly navigation, and consideration of various cognitive abilities. By ensuring that
technology is user-centered and accessible, we can facilitate its effective adoption and utilization
by older adults with MCI.
Further, the prevalence of memory and planning difficulties highlighted that solutions
should prioritize features that support memory recall and task organization. Examples include
smartphone apps with reminder functionalities, wearable devices tailored to cognitive needs, and
intuitive reminder systems. The development of such technology can potentially enhance the
daily lives of individuals with MCI, promoting independence and reducing cognitive burden.
This presentation underscores the importance of conducting needs assessments as a
foundational step in human factors/ergonomics research. The takeaways from our study have the
potential to positively impact the lives of older adults with MCI and their caregivers,
contributing to a more inclusive and supportive society for all. As we move forward, it is
imperative that we continue to prioritize the needs and well-being of older adults, particularly
those facing cognitive challenges, to ensure they can lead fulfilling and independent lives.
Event Type
Oral Presentations
TimeTuesday, March 268:30am - 8:52am CDT
LocationSalon A-3
Patient Safety Research and Initiatives