Best Practice Guidance
Human Interaction with Technology in Dementia

Recommendations

Best Practice Guidance at a glance

3.1

Practical, cognitive & social factors to improve usability of technology for people with dementia

 

Technologies are increasingly vital in today’s activities in homes and communities. Nevertheless, little attention has been given to the consequences of the increasing complexity and reliance on them, for example, at home, in shops, traffic situations, meaningful activities and health care services. The users’ ability to manage products and services has been largely neglected or taken for granted. People with dementia often do not use the available technology because it does not match their needs and capacities. This section provides recommendations to improve the usability of technology used in daily life, for meaningful activities, in healthcare and in the context of promoting the Social Health of people with dementia.

3.1.1 Technology in everyday life
3.1.2 Technology for meaningful activities
3.1.3 Healthcare technology
3.1.4 Social Health Domain 1: Fulfill ones potential and obligations
3.1.5 Social Health Domain 2: Manage ones own life and promote independence
3.1.6 Social Health Domain 3: Technology to promote social participation
3.2

Evaluating the effectiveness of specific contemporary technology

 

The rapid growth of the technological landscape and related new services have the potential to improve the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of health and social services and facilitate social participation and engagement in activities. But which technology is effective and how is this evaluated best? This section provides recommendations to evaluate the effectiveness of technology in daily life, meaningful activities and healthcare services as well as of technologies aimed to promote the Social Health of people with dementia. Examples of useful technologies in some of these areas are provided.

3.2.1 Technology in everyday life
3.2.2 Technology for meaningful activities
3.2.3 Health care technology
3.2.4 Social Health Domain 1: Fulfill ones potential and obligations
3.2.5 Social Health Domain 2: Manage ones own life and promote independence
3.2.6 Social Health Domain 3: Technology to promote social participation
3.3

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.

3.3.1 Technology in everyday life
3.3.2 Technology for meaningful activities
3.3.3 Healthcare technology
3.3.4 Social Health Domain 1: Fulfill ones potential and obligations
3.3.5 Social Health Domain 2: Manage ones own life and promote independence
3.3.6 Social Health Domain 3: Technology to promote social participation