The purpose of this review is to determine the effectiveness of assistive technologies in reducing the caregiving burden for older adults with cognitive impairments and disabilities. International databases, Cochrane, PubMed, Embase, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, as well as KoreaMed and other Korean databases, were searched for studies published up to March 30, 2025.The included studies were synthesized using a systematic review without meta-analysis approach. Twelve studies were selected, comprising 941 participants, with eight randomized and four non-randomized controlled trials. Methodologically, the reviewers assessed randomized controlled trials using Cochrane's Risk-of-Bias tool 2.0 and non-randomized controlled trials using the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Non-randomized Studies. Assistive technology included social-assist robots; smart tablets or mobile devices; home care technologies that provide monitoring or assistance with activities of daily living; and interactive technologies that enable home monitoring, visits, and telecare. Assistive technology significantly reduced caregiver distress, role strain, concerns about older adults, caregiver burnout, anxiety, negative feelings, and loss of control, and improved caregiver well-being.Caregivers should consider using assistive technology to care for older adults as it can reduce their care burden. Further intervention studies are necessary to analyze how interventions using assistive technology reduce caregiver burden.
Kim et al. (Tue,) studied this question.