Creating a smart speaker system to assess loneliness in older adults at home
Official title: HomePal: Developing a Smart Speaker-Based System for In-Home Loneliness Assessment for Older Adults
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11115789 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a smart speaker system that helps find out if older adults living alone feel lonely, using technology to listen and observe their daily activities without them having to say anything, and it’s designed for people aged 65 and older.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | March 15, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $186,767 |
| NIH project number | 5R21AG083414-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11115789 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults aged 65 and above who live alone in the community.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not live alone or are younger than 65 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to develop a smart speaker-based system that can automatically assess loneliness in older adults living alone. By utilizing passive sensing data and integrating Internet of Things (IoT) devices, the system will collect speech and behavioral data to evaluate loneliness levels without requiring direct self-reporting. The study will involve 70 participants aged 65 and older, who will be monitored for three months to gather continuous digital biomarker data. The goal is to identify lonely individuals early to provide timely interventions and improve their overall health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to early detection of loneliness in older adults, allowing for timely interventions that can improve their mental and physical health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using technology for loneliness assessment, but this specific approach using smart speakers is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chung, Jane — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Chung, Jane
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.