Technology for people with dementia It works, why aren’t people using it? Tim Adlam Bath Institute of Medical Engineering School for Health, University of Bath |

UK / Canada Collaboration on the Implementation of Technology for Dementia Two 1½ day workshops Toronto and Bath in 2008/09 10 Delegates from each country –Academics (OT, engineering, dementia care, outcome measurement) –Industry (ICT, Housing) –Health (Epidemiology, OT) Funded jointly by EPSRC / CIHR:IA / Government of Canada

Outline Awareness Evidence Skills and Knowledge Technology transfer Availability

Awareness – do people know about it? Universities? NHS? Professions? Local authorities? Housing providers? People with dementia? Who is diagnosed?

Awareness – do people know about it? Universities? –Some awareness –Publications –Conference presentations NHS –Some awareness Local authorities? –Some awareness –Pilot telecare schemes Housing providers? –Some awareness –Telecare installed People with dementia and their families? –Very little awareness –AT Dementia website –What people can find

Evidence – does it work? We think so …

Evidence – does it work? We think it works: –Gloucester Smart House –Safe at Home project –Deptford and Bristol evaluations –ENABLE –COACH –CIRCA –Preventative technology grant outcomes –(Whole System Demonstrator) –… But we don’t KNOW

Cochrane Systematic Review 2007 social alarms, electronic assistive devices, telecare social alert platforms, environmental control systems, automated home environments and 'ubiquitous homes'. “As with many new technologies, smart home technologies are often used without first testing if they are effective. This review aimed to determine what effect any type of smart home technologies have on people. The review produced a significant volume of literature on the use of smart technologies within health care, but there were no studies testing their effectiveness. The effects of smart technologies to support people in their homes are not known. Better quality research is needed.” Smart home technologies for health and social care support Martin S, Kelly G, Kernohan WG, McCreight B, Nugent C

Skills and Knowledge Do practitioners have the knowledge and skills needed to apply technology to dementia care?

Three Knowledge Gaps Dementia care provider –What can technology do –How do I apply technology to dementia care? –How do I obtain it? –What support does it need? Technology provider –How do I work in a dementia care context? –How should technology be designed to be useable by people with dementia? Family with dementia –Is technology relevant? –How do we obtain technology we can afford? –How do we know what we need?

Skills – The Application of Knowledge Courses? –None on dementia and technology OTs and social workers: “We know there is technology available, but …” – How do I assess for it? – Where do I find it? – How do I use it?

Technology transfer Translating technology from laboratory to living room

Technology transfer Much research in UK and international universities –Little of it has reached the market place Why? Little interest from existing telecare providers Little drive to transfer technology in this area from universities Some exceptions: –CIRCA –Forget-me-not –AT Dementia

How can assistive technology for people with dementia be obtained?

Directories –Web based directories Community equipment stores? –None / Very little Specialist technology providers –Telecare available –A little assistive technology Equipment catalogues –Small dementia sections with stand-alone technology Retail outlets –None / very little Internet outlets –A little Availability – Sources of technology

Areas to focus on Awareness People need to know that it exists and how to find it Evidence What is its impact? Skills and Knowledge What do people need to know? Technology transfer Get it out of the lab Availability It has to be able to be bought