What is it about?
Traditional paper-and-pencil tests used to make predictions about older adults' ability to function independently are likely not appropriate for older adults who are not White or native English-speakers. Technologies such as ecological momentary assessment (e.g., daily surveys administered via smartphone or computer), virtual reality, and smart home technologies (e.g., sensors placed in homes to monitor activity like movement or sleep) are being used to help assess older adult's daily functioning. This paper reviews prior studies to see how well these technologies can predict daily functioning in older adults generally, as well as in racially and ethnically diverse older adults.
Featured Image
Photo by Jaddy Liu on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Neuropsychology is currently facing a crisis: (1) our assessment of instrumental activities of daily living (e.g., managing medications and finances) is limited because we use largely paper-and-pencil measures in a structured environment while IADLS take place in an unstructured home environment, and (2) our paper-and-pencil measures are biased against individuals from culturally and ethnically diverse backgrounds.
Perspectives
This paper offers a potential solution to assessing IADLs in older adults of any background, ideally leading to more equitable and accurate assessment of everyone, regardless of background.
Stacey Lipio Brothers
University of Utah
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Application of novel technological solutions in the assessment of culturally diverse older adults., Practice Innovations, March 2023, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/pri0000206.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
