Technology for Dementia Care at Home

Technology in various forms has been utilised in dementia care for many years, to help ease symptoms and improve overall quality of life for people living with the condition. Using assistive devices on a daily basis can boost your independence, improve safety and allow you to remain active. Many people already use assistive technology in everyday life without even realising it.

There are several ways technology can help you or your loved one live well with dementia, as well as how others can utilise it to better support the condition. Today, we’ll explore how assistive equipment, such as mobility aids, is used in dementia care by professional live-in carers.

What Is Assistive Technology?

Assistive technology is an umbrella term for systems or devices used to maintain or improve a person’s ability to complete everyday tasks. These can assist with a range of dementia symptoms, including memory loss and mobility struggles. There are numerous options for assistive technology on the market, so the term encompasses a wide range of products, from electronic medication boxes to smart home systems.

Many people don’t consider their smartphones and tablets to be assistive devices, but with the correct apps installed, your phone could be an excellent form of assistive technology for dementia patients.

Technology can be utilised in various ways to help individuals with dementia maximise their quality of life despite the progression of their symptoms. Not only can certain devices enhance safety and independence, but they can also help monitor health and well-being. The most common symptoms technology assists with include:

• Memory loss
• Difficulties planning and following through with tasks
• Communication troubles, including speech, language and hearing
• Mobility
• Safety inside and outside the home
• Maintaining independence, dignity and self-confidence
• Socialising and doing enjoyable activities

Types of Assistive Technology Used in Dementia Care

The amount of technological assistance you want and require depends on your stage of dementia and current symptoms. Some people find technology useful and interesting, while others aren’t interested in including it within their care plan.

Below are some of the most common options for technology available for dementia home care:

Smartphones

Phones have several excellent features that can be used to enhance the quality of life when living with dementia. Not only can they be programmed to include loved ones’ numbers, making them easier to connect with, but several other apps can also be downloaded to enhance the smartphone’s usability.

There are several ways to use a phone in dementia care, including:

• Time, date and calendar: Keep track of appointments, planned social activities and more with easy-to-read time-tracking apps on your phone.

• Alarms: Set alarms to keep on a reliable schedule. Programmed medication reminders, meal times, and wind-down periods can be signalled through alarms.

• Smart home compatibility: Certain smart home devices, such as Amazon Echo or in-home camera systems, connect with apps, allowing them to control them from a phone.

• Online shopping: Essential necessities can be purchased from a phone, eliminating the need to go out alone, which is particularly helpful for people with mobility issues or those who are confused.

• Social media and online forums: Beneficial for connecting with like-minded people who are going through similar things.

• Digital games and puzzles: People can use their phones for entertainment and mental stimulation.

• Emergency assistance: Smartphones often have shortcuts that make requesting emergency assistance easier and more immediate.

Read our guide on the best phones for people with dementia to find an option optimised for your symptoms.

Clocks, Calendars and Alarms

Automatic calendar clocks display the date, time, and day of the week to help people with dementia stay on track and stay present. Some dementia clocks show whether it’s morning or evening, which can be very helpful when it’s dark in the morning or lighter in the evenings due to daylight saving time.

Dementia can cause vision impairments, and people dealing with these might fare best from a talking clock. Certain smartphone apps can be installed to tailor your alarm preferences, in case hearing impairments stop you from noticing reminders. For example, these might allow you to choose a flashing light or vibration to signal the alarm rather than just a ringtone.

Safety Devices

It’s imperative that people with dementia feel safe enough to live independently at home. Several types of assistive technology can contribute to safe living, including:

• Automatic lights that turn on and off when they sense movement, so you don’t have to struggle to find a light switch at night.
• Wearable community alarms with a button to press, should you become worried about your safety and are unable to reach your phone.

• Special plugs that drain water once a certain depth has been reached in a sink or bath, preventing flooding and slippery floors.

• Timed shut-off devices that turn off cookers or the gas supply if it’s been left on for too long.

• Fall sensors which register if a person has fallen and can’t get back up, who may need emergent assistance.

• Water isolation devices can shut off a tap if it has been left running, preventing flooding.

GPS Tracking Devices

GPS uses satellite technology to locate devices that are connected to it. Carrying a GPS device ensures that you can be located should you become lost or go missing. Most smartphones include GPS technology, but you can also get watches, key rings and necklaces that can be tracked if the person with dementia often forgets to bring their phone with them.

GPS locators can also be placed on commonly lost items, such as your keys, phone and even glasses. This helps you locate them around the house, so you don’t have to waste time searching for them.

Medication Aids

There are several assistive technology aids designed to help keep your medication schedule running smoothly and on time, without missed doses leading to heightened symptoms. These include:

• Pill boxes: These come with separate compartments for each day of the week and time of day, making it clear when you need to take your next medication and which doses you’ve already taken each day.

• Automatic pill dispensers: These are pre-filled and locked, so dosages can’t be changed. When it’s time to take your medication, an alarm will sound, and a compartment will open to provide access to the correct medication.

Smart Home Devices

Smart home devices, such as Google Home, Amazon Echo and Apple HomePod, can support people living with dementia in numerous ways. These devices are voice-activated and can be used to set reminders for specific tasks, medications and other important events. For example, you can ask your smart home device to create a shopping list that you can continually add to as you discover you need items, ensuring you don’t have to visit the supermarket more often than necessary.

You can also program your device to ‘listen’ for specific sounds, such as glass breaking, and alert a loved one immediately. Smart home devices can often perform most tasks that a smartphone can, but without the need for touchscreens and small buttons. Some people with dementia find it easier to talk to their virtual assistant rather than work a phone.

Hearing and Vision Aids

As dementia symptoms progress, hearing and vision aids might be required to support the weakening senses. Hearing aids, headphones, and loud speaking devices can all help with hearing impairments, making it easier for people with dementia to live independently without relying on someone else’s hearing.

People with sight issues may benefit from magnifying glasses that can be used for reading and writing. These can be either handheld or electronic magnifying screens, depending on their intended and frequency of use. Other beneficial equipment for sight impairments includes braille remote controls and contrasting colour furnishings.

Robotic Technology

Robotic technology is becoming increasingly popular with recent advancements, and certain options can be utilised in dementia care. Small robotic pets can be therapeutic for people with dementia who lack the capacity to care for real pets, and automatic vacuum cleaners are beneficial for maintaining a clean home.

Choosing Assistive Technology for Dementia Care

With so many choices, it can be difficult to know where to start when deciding which assistive technology you require in your dementia care plan. To choose the best assistive devices for your or your loved one’s care plan, consider:

• Whether the technology is needed, or the support can be obtained another way
• How well the technology can be incorporated into your usual routines
• Which technology best meets your current and future needs
• Whether the technology requires internet access or a phone line
• Your preferences and ability to use devices and how this might change over time
• The cost of your chosen technology
• Whether other conditions might affect how you use the technology
• How much support you have from other people to use the technology

If you’re still confused, an Occupational Therapist can advise you on what equipment would best meet you or your loved one’s needs. They’ll conduct a comprehensive assessment of your needs and preferences on living requirements, and make judgments on what may make life easier.

How Country Cousins Can Help

At Country Cousins, we take pride in providing comprehensive, personalised care to our clients. While technology can be beneficial in dementia care, it can’t replace one-to-one care provided by a professional. Our carers are fully trained and experienced in dementia care, including the use of assistive technology to enhance quality of life.

Our dementia care service includes:

• Assistance with showering, dressing and oral hygiene
• Encouragement with hobbies and social activities
• Mobility assistance
• Help with daily tasks, including cooking and light housekeeping
• Reminders for appointments, medication and commitments
• Compassionate and emotional support
• Comprehensive care prioritising independence and dignity

Talk to Our Team Today

As the UK’s longest-serving introductory live-in care agency, we have been providing compassionate live-in care to those who need it since 1959 – all from the comfort of their own homes.

Give us a call today on 01293 224 706. Our experienced team is on hand to help from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. Alternatively, contact us through our online enquiry form.