Perspectives of older adults and healthcare providers on digital technologies in reminiscence therapy: A qualitative study.
Global population ageing has heightened mental health concerns among older adults. Traditional reminiscence therapy (RT) is effective but faces limitations in accessibility and scalability due to its reliance on clinical settings and professional guidance. Digital technologies, including multimedia platforms, virtual reality, and social robots, offer promising alternatives. The purpose of this study is to explore the perceptions, attitudes, needs, and concerns of older adults and healthcare providers regarding digital reminiscence technology.
A qualitative descriptive design was used, employing focus groups with 14 older adults from communities and nursing homes, and 10 healthcare providers from a tertiary hospital. Four focus groups were conducted between November and December 2024, following demonstrations of digital tools. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis with NVivo 12.
The analysis revealed three major categories: Integration of reminiscence and digital tools; Enhancing accessibility and usability; Ethical and social considerations in digital reminiscence.
Digital technologies can enrich RT by improving immersion and scalability, but challenges like affordability, usability, and ethical risks must be addressed. Findings from both older adults and healthcare providers in the Chinese cultural context highlight the need for affordable, simple, culturally sensitive, and ethically robust digital solutions, suggest that tailored strategies should be developed for family, community, and clinical settings to support the wellbeing of older adults.
A qualitative descriptive design was used, employing focus groups with 14 older adults from communities and nursing homes, and 10 healthcare providers from a tertiary hospital. Four focus groups were conducted between November and December 2024, following demonstrations of digital tools. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis with NVivo 12.
The analysis revealed three major categories: Integration of reminiscence and digital tools; Enhancing accessibility and usability; Ethical and social considerations in digital reminiscence.
Digital technologies can enrich RT by improving immersion and scalability, but challenges like affordability, usability, and ethical risks must be addressed. Findings from both older adults and healthcare providers in the Chinese cultural context highlight the need for affordable, simple, culturally sensitive, and ethically robust digital solutions, suggest that tailored strategies should be developed for family, community, and clinical settings to support the wellbeing of older adults.