Dementia Care Enhanced: The Role of Digital Tools in Aging in Place

A scoping review identifies technology-based interventions as a decisive force to strengthen dementia care and support aging in place by improving psychological and social outcomes while streamlining coordination of services. Clinically, the clearest immediate beneficiaries are community-dwelling older adults with mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment and their informal caregivers.

Earlier work in this field relied on small trials and piecemeal implementations that left psychosocial and care-coordination outcomes fragmented. This review synthesizes diverse intervention types and finds convergent benefits across mental health, knowledge, and social domains, increasing readiness for implementation in integrated care models.

Importantly, the review reports consistent associations between digital interventions and improved self-efficacy and emotional well‑being for people living with dementia. It also documents gains in social connectedness and clearer care coordination—reproducible benefits across settings. Together, these advances may improve safety, reduce caregiver strain, and help preserve independence.

Consequently, the analysis highlights that digital tools have not reached key groups: non-English speakers, lower-income households, and rural residents were underrepresented or underserved, limiting equitable reach. Recurring usability issues and a lack of cultural tailoring reduce acceptability and sustained use. Addressing these equity and design gaps is therefore essential to achieve broad population impact.

No single technology class proved uniformly superior; effectiveness tracked with personalization, usability, and cultural fit. Design priorities should emphasize user-centered interfaces, multi-language support, and caregiver integration, because tailoring to user needs determines real-world success.