Intervention effectiveness of a comprehensive frailty prevention system using ICT for community-dwelling elderly people living alone

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K17436
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 58080:Gerontological nursing and community health nursing-related
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: INOUE AIKO 名古屋大学, 未来社会創造機構(医), 特任講師 (10805245)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 高齢者 / 独居 / フレイル / ICT活用

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A three-month comprehensive frailty prevention support system intervention using a smart speaker with a screen (Alexa) was conducted in elderly people living alone to examine changes in physical and mental functions and the effects of frailty prevention. The results showed significant improvements in walking speed and TMT-A. Furthermore, “quite active time,” equivalent to moderate exercise intensity, which is considered desirable for the elderly, increased significantly. More than half of the subjects responded that the ICT-based non-face-to-face program was helpful in reviewing their lifestyle habits, triggering them to sustain healthy behaviors, and reducing their sense of loneliness, suggesting that the program may contribute to increasing motivation for activity (motivation) and changing behavior.　The results suggest that this program may contribute to change in consciousness and behavior for the following reasons.

Free Research Field

老年医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

海外では、フレイル高齢者を対象としたマルチコンポーネントによるプライマリケア、老人医療および地域社会のリソースを統合した実践的な実施プログラムの実施や、サルコペニアと身体的フレイルの高齢者を対象とした身体活動と栄養指導・食事介入、ICTによる多要素介入が行なわれ始めている。健康寿命の延伸につながる様々な老年症候群に対する予防には複合的、包括的介入が必要とされており、本プログラムの実装化は、独居高齢者の自助機能の強化と社会的孤立を防止し、QOLの向上ならびに安否確認にとどまりがちな見守り支援サービスの在り方を検討の際、新たな行政支援サービスの提案に貢献できると考える。