Choosing assistive technology

There are a few things you need to consider when choosing assistive technology for people with dementia.  You may like to consider consulting with an Occupational Therapist to get their advice on what equipment would best meet your loved one’s needs. They will conduct a comprehensive assessment as well as discuss with the family their views on what would make life easier.

It is always important to ensure your loved one is engaged in what is planned for them, so their choices and wishes are respected. It might be that your loved one is not comfortable using innovative technology and will need help and support to bring it into their lives. No decision should be made that restricts a person’s freedom or privacy.

Depending on where they are in their dementia journey, some technology may not be appropriate, and it can never replace one-to-one care provided by a family or professional carer if that is what your loved one needs. It is worth noting that dementia technology should never replace face-to-face contact to stay connected to loved ones. This could have a detrimental impact on a person’s overall well-being and may mean they feel socially isolated.

Here are some things to consider when choosing assistive technology for dementia:

-whether there is a need for it, or can the support be provided by a different means

-what technology will best meet the person’s needs

-preferences and ability to use devices, and how these might change over time

-other conditions that may affect how technology is used (such as sight or hearing problems)

-how much support is available from other people and whether this will be needed to be able to use the technology

-how well the technology will fit in with usual routines

-whether the technology requires a phone line or internet access

-the cost of the technology