Video Calls for Older Adults: A Narrative Review of Experiments Involving Older Adults in Elderly Care Institutions

Abstract

Social isolation in geriatric institutions is a real threat to older adults' (OAs) well-being. Visits from family members, when they are not impacted by geographical distance or illness, sometimes fail to provide sufficient opportunities for social connectedness and interaction to prevent and/or combat OAs' loneliness and social isolation. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) offer promising solutions to this problem. Video calls provide a quick and convenient way for remote communication between OAs and their families, and a complement to face-to-face visits in geriatric settings. Over the last months, during the several confinements imposed to stop the transmission of COVID-19 over the world, several care homes and long-care facilities have equipped themselves with laptops, tablets and video call applications to help OAs remain in contact with their relatives. However, numerous technical and human-related factors may hinder the use of video calls in these settings. The complexity of technological devices, as well as OAs limited digital skills, low confidence and experience in the use of technology are some examples. Furthermore, the specific context of use and the required implication of multiple actors (care professionals, family members) should also be considered when examining the use and implementation of video calls in geriatric institutions. We conducted a narrative review of literature describing the use of video calls in geriatric institutions between 2000 and 2021, especially because of the little information related to OAs' use of video calls in geriatric settings. One thousand one hundred ninety-seven references were screened and 15 studies focusing on the usability, acceptability and effectiveness of video calls were included. A qualitative, deductive thematic analysis inspired by a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) multidimensional model was used to identify barriers, enablers and solutions to video calls implementation in geriatric institutions. The results from the HTA-based analysis provide encouraging evidence for the feasibility of video call use in geriatric settings, and its efficacy on reducing social isolation among residents. However, numerous technical, human-related, ethical and organizational barriers persist and should be addressed in future works. The present analysis has also allowed the identification of potential solutions to overcome these barriers, which are discussed in this publication.

From the drama of unoccupied time and isolation due to Covid-19’s pandemic to the need for person-centered care at residential care facilities in Portugal

“…However, the new activities were essentially videocalls, and considering their frequency (> 70%), this practice seems to have been a panacea, that is, a transversal solution that residential care facilities found to fill the gap left by the isolation and a lack of visitation. These results are coherent with the study by Naudé et al ( 2022 ), which shows that many geriatric institutions around the world promoted videocalls due to the pandemic. Although videocalls can provide a solution regarding connection and social contact at a distance (Inzitari et al, 2020 ), they tend to be sporadic and short-lived activities (Naudé et al, 2022 ).…”

“…These results are coherent with the study by Naudé et al ( 2022 ), which shows that many geriatric institutions around the world promoted videocalls due to the pandemic. Although videocalls can provide a solution regarding connection and social contact at a distance (Inzitari et al, 2020 ), they tend to be sporadic and short-lived activities (Naudé et al, 2022 ). Additionally, several technical and human factors can become barriers in the use of videocalls, such as the cognitive and physical capacities required, the complexity of technological devices and the limited digital skills (Naudé et al, 2022 ).…”

“…For these cases, authors Ayalon et al ( 2020 ), Trabucchi and De Leo ( 2020 ), emphasize in their studies about the pandemic at residential care facilities that the use of technological means has limited effectiveness and sometimes causes serious discomfort, meaning that conducting videocalls to alleviate loneliness and anxiety may have an opposite effect to the one intended. Consequently, in cases where OA cannot use new technologies on their own, they will be excluded or will require help from staff members (Naudé et al, 2022 ; Seifert et al, 2020 ; United Nations, 2020 ). This raises ethical considerations related to privacy (Naudé et al, 2022 ).…”

“…Consequently, in cases where OA cannot use new technologies on their own, they will be excluded or will require help from staff members (Naudé et al, 2022 ; Seifert et al, 2020 ; United Nations, 2020 ). This raises ethical considerations related to privacy (Naudé et al, 2022 ). If fully provided and maintained throughout the videocall, the help and support provided by staff members can jeopardize the privacy of interactions between OA and their relatives.…”

Health Equity Implications of the COVID-19 Lockdown and Visitation Strategies in Long-Term Care Homes in Ontario: A Mixed Method Study

“…A mixed-method study among family caregivers of LTC residents living with dementia reported a similar trend, as almost a quarter of responders perceived virtual visits as “ineffective” [ 55 ]. Of note, we highlight a discordance between our qualitative finding on the limited feasibility of virtual visits, and our quantitative survey results that show these visits as the most feasible (86.6%), a finding which is also replicated in the published literature [ 58 ]. This variance could be attributed to retrospective bias, variability of stakeholder groups responding to the survey and interviews, and differences in IT infrastructure and facilitation capacity among LTC homes needed for a successful implementation of virtual visits.…”