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

Although 70% of immigrants reported an ability to communicate in English or French as a second language, frontline observations and evidence suggest that many older adults revert to their first language as they age and when they experience complex health challenges.

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.
6. a feasibility and acceptability study of the use of mobile cultural-language translation tools in older adult care across LTC and home care settings.
7. a pilot study on the use of select mobile cultural-language translation tools on older adult health and wellbeing outcomes and equity.

The project is currently ongoing. The project is in Phase Two, with research activities focusing on exploring the feasibility and acceptability of the translation tool intervention, building and strengthening community and interest holder engagement, and knowledge mobilization activities.

Publications and media

Chung-Lee, L., Akbarian, A., Yoon, R., et al. (2026). Leveraging cultural-language translation apps to support and promote equitable older adult care: A scoping review. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 7334648251404144. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648251404144 (external link) 

Della Pietra, L. (2025, December). What happens when you invite people in. Bridges Magazine. https://www.torontomu.ca/bridging-divides/magazine/issue-2/what-happens-when-you-invite-people-in/

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: 

• Abdulai, A.-F., Chung-Lee, L., Ho, M., Hou, R., Stamenova, V., Yoon, R., Anoushka, A., Akbarian, A., Marciniak, A., Wong, J. P. (accepted 2025, December 22). Moving beyond being lost in translation – Leveraging mobile cultural-language translation tools to enable equitable older adult care [Conference presentation abstract]. Community Health Nurses of Canada 2026 Conference, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, May 20-22, 2026.
• Marciniak, A., Stamenova, V., Chung-Lee, L., Wong, J.P., Ho, M., Anoushka, A., Akbarian, A., Yoon, R. (accepted). Bridging the Communication Gap: World Café Insights on Mobile Translation Technology in Improving Care of Older Immigrants in Community and Long-Term Care [Rapid Fire presentation abstract]. Community Health Nurses of Canada 2026 Conference, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, May 20-22, 2026. 
• Akbarian, A., Yoon, R., Ho, M., Stamenova, V., Chung-Lee, L., Hou, R., Wong, J.P., Abdulai, A.-F., Anoushka, A., & Marciniak, A. (submitted 2025, December 1). Adopting cultural-language translation technologies to advance equitable older adult care [Conference presentation abstract]. 37th International Nursing Research Congress, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, July 16-18, 2026.
• “Research Panel: Digital Technology for Culture-Language Concordant Care,” hosted at BD Retreat, Toronto, Canada, October 9, 2025.
• “The use of communication apps with immigrant seniors in long-term care homes: What is the state of evidence?” presented by L. Chung-Lee, A. Akbarian, R. Yoon, A.-F. Abdulai, A. Anoushka, R. Zinaic, M. Ho, V. Stamenova, and J. P. Wong, Bridging Divides Research Discovery Retreat, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, June 11–13, 2025.
• Hosted the event "Moving Beyond: Lost in Translation - Community Knowledge Exchange Forum", Toronto, Canada, June 25, 2025.
• “Bridging language barriers in long-term care: A scoping review on digital translation tools,” presented by A. Akbarian, Canadian Nursing Informatics Association National Conference, 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.

Older immigrant adults; mobile translation tools; communication technology; language-specific needs, long-term care; home care; community care