Ethical Issues Raised by the Introduction of Artificial Companions to Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment: A Call for Interdisciplinary Collaborations

The development of effective interventions for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in older adults has been limited by extensive variability in the conceptualization and definition of MCI, its subtypes, and relevant diagnostic criteria within the neurocultural, pharmaceutical, and gerontological communities. A scoping review was conducted to explore the conceptual development of MCI and identify the resulting ethical, political, and technological implications for the care of older adults with MCI. A comprehensive search was conducted between January and April 2013 to identify English-language peer-reviewed articles published between 1999 and 2013. Our analysis revealed that the MCI conceptual debate remains unresolved, the response to ethical issues is contentious, the policy response is limited, and one-dimensional and technological interventions are scarce. Reflections on the conceptual, ethical, and policy responses in conjunction with the identification of the needs of older adults diagnosed with MCI highlight significant opportunities for technological interventions to effectively reposition MCI in the aging care discourse.

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O2-06-04: ETHICAL ISSUES RAISED BY THE INTRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL COMPANIONS TO OLDER ADULTS WITH COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT: A CALL FOR EMPOWERMENT

Alzheimer s & Dementia ◽

10.1016/j.jalz.2019.06.4484 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 15 ◽

pp. P550-P550

Author(s):

Elena Portacolone ◽

Jodi Halpern ◽

Jay Luxenberg ◽

Krista L. Harrison ◽

Kenneth E. Covinsky

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Ethical Issues

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ETHICAL DILEMMAS PRESENTED BY COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT AND VULNERABLE ELDERS

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.888 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S238-S238

Author(s):

Elizabeth J Santos ◽

Corey A Nichols-Hadeed

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Clinical Setting ◽

Ethical Issues ◽

Ethical Dilemmas ◽

Ethical Principles ◽

Case Scenario ◽

Different Types ◽

The Impact

Abstract Identification and assessment for cognitive impairment is a difficult task further complicated by the need to determine capacity. Issues related to cognitive impairment and capacity create ethical dilemmas potentially spanning all four ethical principles: autonomy, beneficence, non-malfeasance, and justice. This paper uses a case scenario to describe different types of cognitive impairment and demonstrate ethical issues that commonly arise when treating patients with cognitive impairment in the clinical setting. The authors also recognize the complexity of capacity as an issue that spans both the medical and legal fields and provides explanations and distinctions. The overall goal of this paper is to raise awareness of the impact of cognitive impairment on the vulnerability of older adults, describe the complex ethical issues that cognitive impairment and capacity raise and the importance of defining capacity in the context of the legal and medical fields.

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Toward Identifying Mild Cognitive Impairment in Hispanic and African American Adults

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/persp2.sig2.110 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 110-116

Author(s):

Valarie B. Fleming ◽

Joyce L. Harris

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

African American ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Healthcare Access ◽

Communication Disorders ◽

Healthcare Systems ◽

Prevention Education ◽

Education Management ◽

African American Adults

Across the breadth of acquired neurogenic communication disorders, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may go undetected, underreported, and untreated. In addition to stigma and distrust of healthcare systems, other barriers contribute to decreased identification, healthcare access, and service utilization for Hispanic and African American adults with MCI. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have significant roles in prevention, education, management, and support of older adults, the population must susceptible to MCI.

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