Care Technology for people living with dementia

Assistive technology has increasingly become an important part of the care of people living with dementia, providing greater peace of mind and significant benefits for people living with dementia, healthcare professionals, relatives and society as a whole.

In this newsletter we will take a closer look at some of these technologies. We will explore the benefits and disadvantages and give a general introduction into how the technology works.

If you want to further deep dive into the topic and learn about more technologies available, you can read the full article on our website here.

The three technologies we will look at in this newsletter is:

1. Localization technology: To manage the risk of dementia patients getting lost.
2. Advanced safety sensors: Dementia patients are often unable to alert themselves to potentially dangerous events. There are sensors that alert automatically when something occurs.
3. Electronic medication dispensers: To ensure correct medication and reduce errors.

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Localization technology

What is it?

Location technology refers to various systems that use GPS (Global Positioning System) or other geolocation methods to track a person's location. These are often mobile?safety alarms?and are particularly useful for people with dementia who may become confused, lost or have a tendency to wander.

How does it work?

1. GPS bracelets/watches or jewelry to wear around the neck or on belt buckles: These mobile safety alarms provide continuous or sporadic information about the user's location to a mobile app or desktop platform.
2. Geo-fencing This is a feature that many mobile security alarms have, allowing the definition of "safe areas". If the person goes out of this area, the system will send an immediate alert.
3. Localization: Many systems have a map function that shows the exact location of the person in real time. This allows relatives or response centers to easily locate the person via their mobile phone or other systems.

The benefits

1. Increased safety: Alerts can be sent immediately to caregivers or relatives if a dementia patient gets lost.
2. Frees up time: Caregivers can perform other tasks knowing that they will be notified if something happens.

Disadvantages

1. Privacy: There may be ethical considerations to take into account, especially when it comes to the person's consent and privacy.
2. Battery life: GPS devices need regular charging, which can be a challenge for dementia patients to remember. At the same time, battery capacity is constantly improving.

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Advanced safety sensor

What are they?

An advanced safety sensor is used in both?care homes?and?private homes?to watch over people who need supervision.

This is particularly important for people with dementia and other cognitive impairments, as they are often unable to alert themselves to potentially dangerous situations that arise, such as falls.

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How does it work?

An advanced safety sensor has a passive notification feature that automatically sends an alarm to healthcare professionals if a situation arises.

Healthcare professionals can then quickly do a?digital supervision?to determine if the person needs physical help or if it's a situation that doesn't require further assistance.

RoomMate?is the leading safety sensor in the world in this area.

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Advantages?

1. Increased security: Alerts are immediately sent to caregivers if an adverse event occurs.
2. Frees up time: Caregivers can perform other tasks knowing that they will be notified if something happens.

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Disadvantages.

1. Privacy: There may be ethical considerations to take into account, especially when it comes to the person's consent and privacy.

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Electronic medication dispensers

What are they?

An electronic medicine dispenser is a technological aid designed to store and manage medication. This box is often equipped with various features such as time settings, alerts and the possibility of remote control via an app.

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How does it work?

1. Time settings:?You can program the box to open specific compartments containing medicines at predetermined times.
2. Alerts:?These boxes can send sound, light or vibration alerts to remind the person that it's time for medication.
3. Remote control and monitoring:?Some advanced models can be connected to an app, such as?Sensio 365,?which allows caregivers or relatives to monitor whether medications are being taken as they should.
4. Dosage control:?Advanced systems can also control dosage to prevent double dosing or missed intakes.

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Benefits.

1. Improved adherence:?Reduces the risk of skipping doses or taking the wrong medicine.
2. Security:?Prevents overdose by locking rooms that should not be opened.
3. Convenience:?Makes medication administration easier for both the patient and caregiver.

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Disadvantages.

1. Power supply:?Most electronic pillboxes rely on a power source, which can be a challenge during power outages.?
2. Cost:?High-end models can be costly.

To summarize

Assistive technology is transforming dementia care, offering vital tools for enhancing safety, independence, and peace of mind for patients, caregivers, and families. In this newsletter we have taken a quick look at three key technologies making a difference for people living with dementia today, but also looked into some of the challenges the technologies face.

Want to learn more? Check out our detailed article on how assistive technology is improving dementia care on our website!