As the U.S. population ages, a growing number of older adults are living alone — a circumstance linked to increased risks of loneliness, social isolation and cognitive decline. Researchers from Arizona State University are addressing these challenges through innovative, technology-enabled interventions designed to improve health, independence and quality of life.
At the 2026 AAAS Annual Meeting, hosted in Phoenix, Arizona State University faculty from the Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation will lead a panel discussion titled “Tech Solutions for Older Adults Living Alone with Cognitive Decline” on Saturday, Feb. 14, from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Phoenix Convention Center.
The panel is organized and moderated by Ross Andel , professor and PhD program director; Fang Yu , professor, Edson Chair in Dementia Translational Nursing Science, and director of ASU Roybal Center for Older Adults Living Alone with Cognitive Decline; and David Coon , associate dean, professor and director of ASU Center for Innovation in Healthy and Resilient Aging — all affiliated with ASU’s Edson College. Together, they will highlight research emerging from the ASU Roybal Center , which advances conceptually driven, technology-enabled behavioral interventions aligned with the NIH Stage Model, which provides a framework for moving behavioral interventions from theoretical development and testing toward real-world impact.
Panel presentations will feature the studies below from Associate Professor Molly Maxfield and Assistant Professor Abigail Gómez-Morales .
I-PASS is a technology-enhanced intervention designed for adults 60 and older who live alone and are less physically active. Engaging in regular physical activity helps to reduce risk for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, yet less than half of US older adults meet national recommendations for weekly physical activity. The project explores how wearable activity trackers, virtual coaching, and simple goal-setting can help increase physical activity while also promoting social connection and stress resilience, and ultimately help to reduce risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
EPIC LA+ addresses a gap for people living alone with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia by supporting emotional well-being, independence, and future planning. Designed for people in the early stages of cognitive decline, the program is delivered nationwide via Zoom. It consists of six group sessions and one individual meeting focused on practical skills for daily life and care planning. The sessions help participants communicate about memory challenges, manage everyday tasks, and plan for future care needs, considering their personal care values. Pilot data showed 100 percent retention, along with improvements in mood, communication, confidence managing memory problems, self-care, and care preparedness. These early results supported the launch of a new randomized clinical trial to learn more about how the program helps participants.
The session aligns with the AAAS Annual Meeting theme, “Science @ Scale,” illustrating how scalable, evidence-based innovations can be deployed to address pressing public health challenges related to aging and cognitive health.
Session details:
Title: Tech Solutions for Older Adults Living Alone with Cognitive Decline
When: Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026 | 10–11 a.m.
Where: Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Arizona