“Like another human being in the room”: a community case study of smart speakers to reduce loneliness in the oldest-old
Open accessAbstract
This community case study examined the potential benefits of smart speakers to tackle loneliness in the oldest old adults living in supported accommodation. The program was established as a collaboration between the supported accommodation provider and a technology company to explore the feasibility of smart speakers to alleviate resident loneliness. Loneliness in later life often accompanies a shrinking social circle, loss of a spouse or increased disability. People aged 85 years of age and over are increasingly likely to experience these life events, leading to an increased risk of social isolation and loneliness. Five older people, mean age 90 years of age, who resided in supported accommodation, were given a smart speaker for 8 weeks to examine their experience with the voice assistant. The experiences of the five older adults are explored as case studies, with each person interviewed both before and after receiving the smart speaker. All five valued their smart speaker, recognised its potential for tackling loneliness, and wanted to keep it. The three most lonely individuals reported that their smart speaker made them feel less lonely and isolated through two mechanisms: (i) creating a presence and (ii) having some control over their situation. Although only a small study, these experiences suggest providing smart speakers for lonely and isolated oldest-old people, could be one way to help combat loneliness in community settings.
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Older adults often form emotional attachments to smart speakers, further integrating these devices into their daily routines and enhancing their overall well-being.
“Research indicates that older adults often form emotional attachments to smart speakers, thereby further integrating these devices into their daily routines and enhancing their overall well-being [8,13].”
From Smart Speakers for Health and Well-Being of Older Adults: A Mixed-Methods Review (2025) · cites this paper as [8]
The Discussion reports that all five oldest-old participants formed attachments to their smart speakers, incorporated them into daily life, and experienced benefits to quality of life. The claim’s “often” extends this small, specific case study to older adults generally; the paper does not establish how frequently older adults form such attachments. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredSmart speakers have become a valuable tool in the care of older adults.
“One key example is the smart speaker, which has become a valuable tool in the care of older adults [8,9].”
From Smart Speakers for Health and Well-Being of Older Adults: A Mixed-Methods Review (2025) · cites this paper as [8]
The Discussion reports that five oldest-old adults valued their smart speakers after eight weeks and describes their potential to alleviate loneliness. It says the findings could inform adoption in housing and care settings, but this small case study does not establish that smart speakers have become a valuable tool in older-adult care generally. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredSmart speakers were described as companions, contributing to emotional support and well-being.
“Devices were also described as companions, contributing to emotional support and well-being [8,27].”
From Smart Speakers for Health and Well-Being of Older Adults: A Mixed-Methods Review (2025) · cites this paper as [8]
By 2024, the emergence of more qualitative and usability investigations indicated that research in the area had progressed into deeper contexts.
“Moreover, by 2024, the emergence of more qualitative and usability investigations was an indicator that research in the area had progressed into deeper contexts [8,10,24].”
From Smart Speakers for Health and Well-Being of Older Adults: A Mixed-Methods Review (2025) · cites this paper as [8]
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- Authors
- Astell, A., & Clayton, D.
- Affiliations
- University Health Network (CA)
- University of Leicester (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Astell, Arlene
- ORCID
- Astell, Arlene
- Venue
- Frontiers in Psychology
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media SA
- Published
- 2024-04-22
- Volume
- 15
- Pages
- 1320555-1320555
- ISSN
- 1664-1078 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC11073492
- OpenAlex
- W4394997483
- Cited by
- 12
- References
- 31
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 1
- FWCI
- 10.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Frontiers in Psychology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Demography › Technology Use by Older Adults
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Social Robot Interaction and HRI
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Assistive Technology in Communication and Mobility
- Keywords
- smart speakers, voice assistants, loneliness, oldest old, social isolation, supported housing, older adults, technology for older people, presence, perceived control, community-based intervention
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