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Artificial Intelligence in Hospice Dementia care: Perspectives of Hospice Staff and Family Caregivers
Oonjee Oh, George Demiris. Innovation in Aging, 2025-12-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Abstract Artificial intelligence (AI) has gained attention as a tool to support dementia care through efficient and personalized interventions. However, individuals situated at the intersection of dementia and end-of-life care are particularly vulnerable due to severe conditions and lack of decision-making capacities. Yet, there is limited research on AI acceptability in this specific context. Hence, we aimed to examine the perceptions of family caregivers and hospice staff regarding AI integration in end-of-life care settings for persons with dementia. We adopted a qualitative descriptive design with 19 participants (10 dementia caregivers in hospice and 9 hospice staff members). Dementia caregivers were interviewed individually and staff, including nurses, social workers, bereavement counselors, and a music therapist, participated in 3 focus group interviews. Transcripts were analyzed using a directed content analysis approach; the Technology Acceptance Model served as the guiding framework. We explored themes of “perceived usefulness,” “perceived ease of use,” and the inductive theme of “guiding the new wave of the future.” Caregivers and staff identified strengths and concerns of using AI in hospice dementia care. Example strengths included providing comprehensible informational support to the families and assisting with monitoring symptoms at home. Concerns included the perceived absence of human touch and warmth in AI, which may create resistance among families to adopt AI, and its potential lack of nuanced understanding of dementia-related behaviors. Staff also highlighted critical considerations when designing and deploying AI for this population, such as recognizing the heterogeneity in dementia and integrating the voices of those providing direct care.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Oh, O., & Demiris, G. (2025). Artificial Intelligence in Hospice Dementia care: Perspectives of Hospice Staff and Family Caregivers. Innovation in Aging. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaf122.4068
Vancouver
Oh O, Demiris G. Artificial Intelligence in Hospice Dementia care: Perspectives of Hospice Staff and Family Caregivers. Innovation in Aging. 2025. doi:10.1093/geroni/igaf122.4068.
BibTeX
@article{oh2025-54bfade9,
author = {Oh, Oonjee and Demiris, George},
title = {{Artificial Intelligence in Hospice Dementia care: Perspectives of Hospice Staff and Family Caregivers}},
journal = {Innovation in Aging},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1093/geroni/igaf122.4068},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaf122.4068}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Transcripts were analyzed using a directed content analysis approach; the Technology Acceptance Model served as the guiding framework.
- We explored themes of “perceived usefulness,” “perceived ease of use,” and the inductive theme of “guiding the new wave of the future.” Caregivers and staff identified strengths and concerns of using AI in hospice dementia care.
- Example strengths included providing comprehensible informational support to the families and assisting with monitoring symptoms at home.
- Concerns included the perceived absence of human touch and warmth in AI, which may create resistance among families to adopt AI, and its potential lack of nuanced understanding of dementia-related behaviors.
- Staff also highlighted critical considerations when designing and deploying AI for this population, such as recognizing the heterogeneity in dementia and integrating the voices of those providing direct care.
Why it matters
In this qualitative study of 19 participants, dementia caregivers in hospice and hospice staff identified both strengths, such as informational support and home symptom monitoring, and concerns about using artificial intelligence in end-of-life dementia care. These are perceptions about care delivery, not evidence that AI treats, cures, or prevents Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Participants19
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 34/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Innovation in Aging) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Innovation in Aging: journal h-index 48 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 19 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 0 / 7 | Cited 0 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 0 / 6 | Cited 0.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author George Demiris: h-index 62 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Pennsylvania: institution h-index 1,859 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 34 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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