Dementia and technology

Assistive technology has a big part to play in dementia care and supporting dementia patients to lead independent lives. We cover the role of technology in dementia care in full in our article here. In this article we review dementia apps that patients can use to help them when they are suffering with mild to moderate dementia. The idea is to help support their own self care and to help them to live independently, and well, at home. Many patients are much happier and content living in their own home, rather than resorting to move into a care home environment, which could be away from their friends and family, or in a new area where they do not know anyone. The reduction in the level of anxiety also has benefits for the dementia patient as they feel more contented in their current living environment. There may be many happy memories attached to their home and it might even help them to be in an environment with familiar smells and surroundings.

There are a number of dementia friendly apps that can be accessed from a mobile phone or tablet and can help to support the dementia patient in their own care. These apps can set reminders for crucial or regular appointments. Some dementia friendly apps contain helpful reminders to prompt patients to drink enough water in the day or make sure that they are eating regularly throughout the day. Often the common feedback from a patient, who has been diagnosed with dementia, is that they feel isolated by lack the support that they need to enable them to lead healthy independent lives. Local care services are overstretched and there are still not enough community care resources available to support dementia care and independent living. If an app can help to support the dementia patient through their dementia journey to live independently and well, then it is definitely worth investing in for the patient.

By using ehealth to manage a patient’s own self care, then the dementia patient can continue to live independently, which will help them to be happy.