Making Things Possible With Alzheimer's

Posted by Donna Mae Scheib on December 08, 2016

Making Things Possible With Alzheimer's

Technological Devices and Their Impact on Alzheimer’s

With an increase in those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and a demand for caregiving, assistive technology can help to promote independence, manage potential safety risks, and also reduce stress for those living with the disease and the caregivers.

While assistive technology is not suitable for everyone with Alzheimer’s, it can bring benefits to some of these individuals based on their abilities, wants, and needs.

What type of tech innovations are on the market today?

1.  Clocks

Telling time, night and day, and time to the hour/minute, as well as determining seasons, let alone the year are challenging for those with Alzheimer’s.

But clocks that are uniquely designed for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia can help to distinguish night and day, the specific time for a routine, etc. Many styles are designed to show both the date and the day of the week.

In addition, clock and calendar apps can be downloaded for tablets which can be tailored to meet individual needs.

2. Electrical, Gas, Water, Telephone Use Monitoring, etc.

Designed specifically for caregivers who don’t live with their loved ones, these devices monitor the use of electrical appliances. They alert the caregiver if the commonly used appliances have been turned on or off.

There are similar shut-off devices that stop the gas supply if gas is left on.

Water isolation devices turn off a faucet if it is left running an extended amount of time to prevent undo flooding. There are also special plugs designed for a sink or bathtub that detect when the water level goes beyond a certain level or when a certain water temperature is reached. These help then to prevent flooding or burns/scalds.

Telephone blockers can prevent unwanted calls and dial-in only calls prevent the individual with Alzheimer’s from making those unwanted calls, themselves.

3. GPS Location and Tracking Devices

These can be worn or attached to the person in some way and have alert systems to let a caregiver know if the Alzheimer’s patient has left a certain area or if they have fallen. This technology can also trigger emergency personnel who may be needed for efficient and safe recovery.  These devices range from watch-based to smartphone apps, key rings and pendants. Some of the tracking devices even allow the person to press a panic button should they get lost.

There are tracking devices that can also be used to help someone find misplaced items, most commonly a key or a wallet. In one device, a small electronic tag is attached so if something is misplaced, a button on the locator device can be clicked so the misplaced item beeps. Often these devices are confusing to patients with more moderate and advanced memory loss; they may be more helpful for caregivers to help find items that may have been misplaced.

Another approach is to attach a small tile to specific items of importance that tend to be misplaced. These can be linked to a smartphone with a simple app that displays where the item was last seen.

4. Medication Management

High tech automated pill dispensers beep to alert when certain pills must be taken. These are pre-filled dispensers that are locked. When the medication needs to be taken, the dispenser sets off an alarm and the appropriate compartment opens; often the alarm continues until the person has removed the pills from the dispenser.

There are simpler forms like a vibrating alarm on a watch to serve as a reminder to either the patient or caregiver of the time to take a particular medication.

There are also devices that can send an alert to a friend or relative to notify them if the medication hasn't been taken, or if the device isn't working for any number of reasons.

5. Picture Phones

These phones are designed for individuals who may not be able to remember phone numbers, yet they want to contact someone. The phones typically have large numbers and are pre-programmable with phone numbers that are used more often. Some of the phones allow the placement of a photo on top of a clear button so the person can push the button of the “photo” to talk to the desired person easily and quickly or they can press just one button and the preferred individual is contacted. 

Many smartphones also offer this option using their touch-screen function.

6. Reminder Messages

These devices can carry recorded messages that are played back out loud at a certain time (for example, telling them when to take a specific medication or about an important appointment.)

Other devices are based on a motion sensor that detects nearby movement. They are used especially when the caregiver is not present and placed strategically in certain areas of the living area to “remind” the person with Alzheimer’s (for example by the front door alerting someone to lock the door or not to go out, in the bedroom and upon awakening at night to tell them to go back to sleep, or in the kitchen to tell them to turn off the oven).

Still other devices allow those not living with the person with dementia to access a tablet in the person’s home and support them with reminders.

Considerations of the type of tech innovations are on the market today

It is advisable to seek professional advice before purchasing any assistive devices. A social worker, elder adviser, medical professional, or locally trained personnel at an assisted living center may be able to help you further. Depending on the area of the country in which you live, the person with the memory deficit might be eligible for an assessment or financial assistance.

Remember that it is important to ask yourself if there is really a need for assistive technology or if is there another solution. The technology needs to match the individual’s abilities, wants, and needs. You also need to consider the cost of the technology. Like most technical devices, over time the prices decrease.

Another factor is how successful the technology will be. If it is introduced sooner, when the person has mild memory deficits or even moderate memory deficits, the chances of it being more successful increases. The person will have more time to adapt to it before their memory decreases and it becomes too difficult to use.

This article discusses a handful of the more common devices. An extensive catalogue of up-to-date assistive devices can be found by going to: https://shop.alzheimers.org.uk/image/pdf/Alzheimers%20DLA%202016%20Catalogue%20W.PDF

With increasing technology and more advancements, the future is bright for both the person with Alzheimer’s and the caregiver. You might want to take the time to consider an assistive device to help in the Alzheimer’s journey of a loved one and to “make things possible”.