AGMR

Background: Loneliness and social isolation are significant public health concerns among homebound older adults, often exacerbated by limited mobility and chronic health conditions. This study evaluates the impact of Artificial intelligence (AI))-powered Alexa voice assistant Echo Show on loneliness in this vulnerable population. Methods: An observational study was conducted with 105 homebound older adults receiving home care services. Participants were provided with Amazon Alexa devices and followed for six months. Loneliness was measured using the UCLA Loneliness Scale-20. Descriptive statistics and multivariate regression models were used to analyze changes in the loneliness score. Results: The mean age of 105 participants was 73.14 years (SD ± 6.56), with 78.1% female and 78.1% White. At baseline, 88.57% of participants reported moderate to severe loneliness, and 93.34% had mild to moderate depression. At six-month follow-up, significant improvements were observed: loneliness scores decreased from 47.343 to 36.474 (p < 0.001). Regression analysis confirmed the intervention’s significant positive effect on reducing loneliness (coefficient = −9.27, p < 0.001), even after controlling for demographic and health-related variables. Participants with congestive heart failure (CHF) reported lower loneliness scores than those without CHF (coefficient = −4.877, p = 0.022), an unexpected finding warranting further investigation. Conclusion: AI-powered voice assistants like Alexa Echo Show significantly reduce loneliness in homebound older adults. These findings highlight the potential of technology-based interventions to address social isolation and enhance the well-being of this population. Policymakers and healthcare providers should consider integrating voice assistants into Medicare and Medicaid home care services to improve outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. Further research is needed to explore long-term effects and mechanisms of action.

loneliness; homebound; older adult; voice assistant; Alexa Echo Show