67. AN INVESTMENT IN CAREGIVER TECHNOLOGIES IS AN INVESTMENT IN WOMEN’S HEALTH

Abstract

Introduction

As the prevalence of dementia grows, the demand for caregivers concomitantly rises. In the U.S. alone, over 11 million people serve as unpaid dementia caregivers, and women represent a majority among them (Alzheimer’s Association, 2024) (Xiong, 2020). Research shows that female caregivers experience greater overall burden, impact on their lives, and depression as compared with their male counterparts (Pillemer, 2018). A recent surge in technologies that support dementia caregivers may offer tools to combat these ever-growing gender disparities. We review the breadth of tech-based approaches that can support caregiving in dementia and explore how they may alleviate caregiving burden for women.

Methods

Given the constantly evolving field of technology in dementia care, we employed an exploratory approach to capture a comprehensive range of emerging technologies. To capture the broadest range of technologies, we utilized a literature review, brainstorming sessions with an interdisciplinary team and experts in the field, and internet searching to identify relevant web-based resources. We then deconstructed the evidence to determine the types of technologies whose use is supported by evidence.

Results

We identified several categories of technologies that may help support female caregivers. They include: communication and tracking tools, transportation tools, interventions aimed at reducing caregiver loneliness, AI-driven monitoring systems, caregiver support platforms and task management apps, and interventions aimed at stress reduction for caregivers.

Conclusions

A growing arsenal of technologies exists to reduce caregiver burden and improve the quality of life for the patient-caregiver dyad. These technologies may be particularly important for female caregivers, who are disproportionately affected by the role. We advocate for investment in these technologies as a path to supporting women and reducing gender disparity in caregiving.