The Use of Communication Apps with Immigrant Seniors in Long Term Care Homes: What is the State of Evidence?

A number of traditional approaches have been used in the long-term care (LTC) sector to address communication barriers in service provision, including the use of medical translation services, communication training programs, and hiring bilingual care staff by using alternative techniques such as gestures or communication boards. However, these approaches are not readily available or adequate due to limited resources. There are increased interests in the health care sector to explore how communication technology may support person-centred care, especially in terms of using software apps with readily available mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones.

What is the state of evidence in the use of communication apps with immigrant seniors in long term care homes in Canada and elsewhere?

Specifically, the project will examine:

1. What types of language communication apps are available to meet language specific communication needs in health care?
2. To what extent are language communication apps being used by staff in LTC settings and community-based senior care?
3. What is the acceptability, feasibility and suitability of integrating language communication apps in care provision in LTC setting?

This is an exploratory study with the aim to generate sufficient preliminary knowledge to inform the design of a multiphase intervention study across Canada. Key research activities include:

1. a scoping review on the types and availability of language communication apps to meet language specific communication needs in Canada’s health care sector;
2. a scoping review and program scan to determine the extent language communication apps being used by staff in LTC setting and senior care in the community;
3. a scoping review on the acceptability, feasibility and suitability of integrating language communication apps in care provision in LTC and other health care settings;
4. host a community Knowledge Translation forum to disseminate findings and engage stakeholders to establish research partnerships for the next steps.
5. build an interdisciplinary research team across Canada to co-design a multiphase intervention study on the use of language communication apps in LTC homes.

The project is currently ongoing, with research activities focusing on: publication efforts, community partnership building and strengthening, knowledge exchange activities.

Publications:

Yoon R, Wong JP, Chung-Lee L, et al. Scoping review protocol: what is the state of evidence for the use of communication apps with immigrant seniors in long-term care and community settings? (external link)  BMJ Open 2024(14)

Past events and conferences: 

• Hosted the event "Moving Beyond: Lost in Translation - Community Knowledge Exchange Forum", Toronto, Canada, June 25
• Bridging language barriers in long-term care: A scoping review on digital translation tools, presented by A. Akbarian, Canadian Nursing Informatics Association National Conference 2025, Toronto, Canada, June 3–4, 2025
• Leveraging cultural-language translation apps for older adult care, presented by L. Chung-Lee, Bridging Divides Research Dialogue Series, Toronto, Canada, February 6, 2025

Immigrant seniors; language communication apps; language-specific needs; long-term care; communication technology