Technology and dementia care...what is available?

Using technology can be daunting for many, but it doesn’t have to be confusing, and introducing technology into care can provide with essential day to day assistance, especially for those with memory difficulties.

Assistive technology is particularly helpful for those with difficulties with memory. It can help the person living with dementia live as independently as possible, preventing mistakes with medication, keeping safe inside and outside the home, and communication.

Electronic pill boxes are a great way for someone who has difficulties with memory to ensure they are taking the correct amount of medication. They can be locked and pre-programmed to dispense medication at the correct time throughout the day, thus removing any confusion around whether the person with dementia has taken their medication or not. Some extra smart pill boxes such as the Pivotell Advance pill dispenser (£210), created in collaboration with Jointly by Carers UK, can send SMS messages to the person living with dementia’s carer/s if medication has been dispensed, if it has not been dispensed, if the dispenser is on low battery or left upside down, and when it is low on pills to dispense.

Motion activated voice reminders can be set up in a person with dementia’s home to remind them to carry out tasks when entering or leaving an area of the house. For instance, when the person with dementia leaves the kitchen, a motion sensor could remind them to turn off the gas stove.

Talking Tins are also helpful for people with dementia who have difficulty reading tin labels, and are an easy to attach, magnetic lids that can be pre-recorded for up to 40 seconds with a voice recording of what is inside the tin. Talking microwaves and timers are also available to buy.

Smart speakers such as Amazon Alexa can be helpful for people living with dementia, particularly those with limited mobility. Smart speakers can be used to make calls, set reminders for appointments, timers (for cooking etc.), play music, radio and some games also. Some smart speakers have a screen on them also for increased functionality, and can be used for video calling. In serious instances where a person with dementia living alone may fall or injure themselves, the smart speaker can be used to contact an emergency contact and the emergency services.

Safer Walking locator device's, are a good option for people with dementia who live alone, and is a device that can be attached to the person living with dementia’s keys and used to keep track of them as they go about their day. Some smarter locator devices can set safe zones, make calls, have an SOS button, and can have the last 1-months’ worth of routes recorded.

It’s important to note with some of the monitoring devices, that the person with dementia must give consent for these to be implemented into their lives. Some of these devices such as the Safer Walking locator can restrict a person’s freedom or limit their privacy, so consent for the use of these is essential. If the person does not have mental capacity to make decisions for themselves, as set out in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 then this decision can be made for them on a ‘best interest’ basis, however the person with dementia should be included in the decision making as much as possible throughout, and should be taught how to use the technology properly and its use.

Radios and Music players. Alzheimer’s society sell a variety of radios and music players, with simple set up and limited number of buttons for ease of use. Some of these radios are also designed to look similar to that of which the person with dementia is used to when they were younger, or have a more modern, brightly coloured and simple design.

Tilt to Pour kettles are handy for those with limited mobility or strength, allowing the person with dementia to boil and pour their hot water without having to lift the kettle.

Electronic clocks with large displays are also useful, and can display not just the time but also the day of the week, and the month. Additionally, Get Up in the Night Sensor Lights are a good way to keep visibility when the person with dementia needs to move around their home in the night.

Using tech can be a great way to help keep on top of your care requirements. An iPhone can do so much to revolutionise the way you live with dementia. There are plenty of fantastic Apps you can download such as MindMate that provides the user with various problem-solving, memory and attention activities to help exercise the brain, and monitor improvement.

There are also plenty of fun, therapeutic apps such as MyReef 3D Aquarium that keep the person with dementia entertained with an interactive, colourful escape.

For people with dementia and carers looking for advice on the go, apps like Alzheimer’s Society’s Talking Point Forum can help those who are directly or indirectly affected by dementia seek advice from others, share their own experiences and build a support network.

For some people with dementia or carers, using any smartphones built in Reminders app is sufficient to keep track of medication, as reminders can be scheduled for certain days, and to be repeated in alignment with the dosage suggested.

Many people with dementia and their carers will find many other pieces of tech that work for them, as everyone experiences dementia differently. And whilst many of these pieces of technology allow for carers to be less present in everyday life, it cannot substitute for the actual presence of loves ones in a person with dementia’s life.