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Technology for people Technology for people with dementiawith dementia

It works, why aren’t people using it?

Tim AdlamBath Institute of Medical EngineeringSchool for Health, University of Bath

t.d.adlam@bath.ac.uk | www.bime.org.uk

UK / Canada Collaboration on the UK / Canada Collaboration on the Implementation of Technology for Implementation of Technology for DementiaDementia

• 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

OutlineOutline

• Awareness• Evidence• Skills and Knowledge• Technology transfer• Availability

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Awareness – do people Awareness – do people know about it?know about it?

Universities?NHS?Professions?Local authorities?Housing providers?People with dementia?Who is diagnosed?

Awareness – do people know Awareness – do people know about it?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

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Evidence – does it work?Evidence – does it work?

We think so …

Evidence – does it work?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 Cochrane Systematic Review 20072007

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 supportMartin S, Kelly G, Kernohan WG, McCreight B, Nugent C

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Skills and KnowledgeSkills and Knowledge

Do practitioners have the knowledge and skills needed to

apply technology to dementia care?

Three Knowledge GapsThree 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 Skills – The Application of KnowledgeKnowledge

• 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?

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Technology transferTechnology transfer

Translating technology from laboratory to living room

Technology transferTechnology 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

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AvailabilityAvailability

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 Availability – Sources of technologytechnology

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Areas to focus onAreas to focus onAwareness

People need to know that it exists and how to find it

EvidenceWhat is its impact?

Skills and KnowledgeWhat do people need to know?

Technology transferGet it out of the lab

AvailabilityIt has to be able to be bought