Designing an AI Language Assistance System for Elderly Users to Overcome Communication Challenges

Abstract

This paper addresses the growing communication challenges faced by elderly individuals in the context of demographic aging and the decline of traditional family support structures. While information and Communication Technologies(ICTs) such as mobile phones and video calls have partially bridged the gap between older adults and their families, their complexity, cost, and limited accessibility, together with older adults’ language deterioration, continue to restrict effective use. To overcome these barriers, this study proposes the AI Language Assistance Towards the Old(AILATO) system, designed to provide intuitive, customized, and inclusive communication support. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with elderly participants, the research identifies four key problem areas: contextual awareness, clarity of message, adaptability to diverse communication channels, and limited vocabulary or language rules. The AILATO framework addresses these issues through four modules - Context, Message, Channel and Code - each offering tailored strategies to enhance communication skills and intergenerational connectivity. The study contributes both theoretical insights into elderly communication needs and practical implications for AI-assisted tools, highlighting the potential artificial intelligence to foster inclusivity, reduce isolation, and improve quality of life for older adults. However, several limitations remain, including elderly users’ difficulties in adapting to highly flexible AI interactions, the relatively simple interface design, dependence on stable internet connectivity, and the challenge of recognizing regional dialects or accents. Despite these constraints, the study contributes both theoretical insights into elderly communication needs and practical implications for AI-powered tools, highlighting the potential of artificial intelligence to foster inclusivity, reduce isolation, and improve quality of life for older adults.