Study shows Alexa can make seniors feel less lonely
When it comes to voice-controlled artificial intelligence, Eugenia Bornemeier knows how to put it to work.
"It would play music for me and answer questions and spell words, which is quite convenient to have," Bornemeier said.
The 76-year-old uses it as an alarm clock and has it read recipes to her when she cooks.
She has three devices in her home.
"I love this stuff. It's quite obvious, I like it," Bornemeier said.
But can devices like Amazon Alexa and Google Home help battle loneliness — particularly with seniors?
That was the question Valerie Jones, a journalism and communications professor with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, wanted to know, especially during this pandemic.
"They talk about the loneliness epidemic. And so I started thinking about how if these could improve our lives. If they could make us less lonely," Jones said.
She equipped 15 seniors who were 75 years and older with devices. Bornemeier was not part of the study.
Jones gave the participants training on the devices and specific commands and routines.
"It made a difference. It did what we hoped it would do," Jones said.
Especially with those people who treated Alexa more like a person.
"There were stories of 'I didn't feel like I was alone anymore.' It became my friend or my companion," Jones said.
Jones was so encouraged, she's now teamed up with UNMC assistant professor of nursing Marcia Shade.
"What we're going to do is we're going to measure loneliness and we're going to measure pain, because there's an association between the two," Shade said.
Shade has been studying the technology to see if it can be used for pain management.
"Whether it's, you know, making sure that you are taking your medications, the way that you're supposed to," Shade said.
She said it could also remind you to stretch or do physical therapy.
Shade also believes it could also provide real-time intervention.
"Oh, we're having this pain and I can talk to our device and that information can get our health care provider," Shade said.
Bornemeier said her devices help keep her on her toes.
"It keeps your mind stimulated. I mean there's always, you can always ask a question or get the news of the day," Bornemeier said.
She doesn't consider them companions but said they can be entertaining.
"Alexa, tell me a joke," Bornemeier said.
"What does spring sound like? Boing," replied the device.
