Best Practice Guidance
Human Interaction with Technology in Dementia

Recommendations

Implementation of technology in dementia care: facilitators & barriers

Successful implementation of technology in dementia care depends not merely on its effectiveness but also on other facilitating or impeding factors related to e.g. the personal living environment (privacy, autonomy and obtrusiveness); the outside world (stigma and human contact); design (personalisability, affordability and safety), and ethics on these subjects.  This section provides recommendations on the implementation of technology in everyday life, for meaningful activities, healthcare technology and technology promoting Social Health.
Technology for meaningful activities

Focus on aspects that are of interest to people with dementia when introducing a new technology

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Guidance

Introduce new application (app) technology to a person with dementia by focusing on aspects that are likely to encourage their interest, such as family photographs, video calls with friends and family, music, games, or art applications.

Explanation

This guidance is based on a review of the literature on the use of touchscreen technology by people with dementia and carers.

 

Type of evidence

Aline Cavalcanti Barroso (INDUCT ESR6)

Literature review and proof of principle study

References

Cavalcanti Barroso, A., Rai, H.K., Sousa, L., Orrell, M., Schneider, J. (2020). Participatory visual arts activities for people with dementia: a review. Perspectives in Public Health, 20(10)1-10.