Whether it be engaging a loved one with Alzheimer’s, managing behaviours, creating a safer environment, or monitoring from a distance – technology has aided in providing better care for those impacted by Alzheimer’s, including those with the disease, as well as their caretakers.
Bhaktraj Singh is the CEO of Hazelton Group and the founder of Adora, two companies based out of Canada. The Toronto executive has been working diligently with his company Adora to build state-of-the-art Alzheimer’s support facilities to address the aging population facing the province of Ontario.
Today, he’s providing his insight into the world of Alzheimer’s and Dementia technology.
Tele-health Technology
Tele-health technology has multiple applications in both the home and care facility and can provide significant stress relief for both the recipient and the caregiver.
- Video monitoring technology supports both the care of the recipient as well as the caregiver by providing useful content for care plan discussions with professionals, enabling more immediate feedback to the caregiver. This more immediate feedback to help a caregiver to make changes in their approach to difficult behaviours can decrease stress for the care recipient and caregiver.
- Additionally, Tele-health technology also includes exit sensors, enuresis sensors, flood detectors, CO detectors, extreme temperature detectors, bed occupancy sensors, and medication reminders.
Safety
Technology for safety is generally designed to protect their care recipient, providing ongoing surveillance, preventing injuries, and preventing unintended exits from the place of care. Safety devices can include medication organizers, wearable ID program devices, location technology, bed occupancy sensors, touchpad key locks, window sensors, and more.
“A great example of a great safety solution includes a GPS sensor on the pet dog of a person with Alzheimer’s, assuming it’s a pet that usually never leaves the person’s side,” says Singh. “This way, the family would know the location of both owner and dog in the event of an emergency.”
Behavioural management
Non-pharmacological treatments to help manage agitation and other difficult behaviours can be an effective element of first-line interventions. A pilot study of people with dementia in an adult day center, conducted by Riley-Doucet and Dunn (2013), measured behaviours before and after the multi-sensory intervention, concluding that the treatments used, including music, fiber optic string lights, solar effects projectors, aroma diffusers, and plasma balls, were all instrumental in improving attention span, restlessness, impulsive behaviour and wandering, just to name a few.
“While medical intervention is very important, studies show that non-pharmacological treatments have some merit,” says Bhaktraj Singh. “Whatever works best for your loved ones is what matters the most.”
Technology for everyone
The independence and positivity surrounding the world of technology can provide a person with Alzheimer’s the means to live more fruitful, meaningful lives. Whether it be off-the-shelf technology or more high-tech technology, both have a place in providing some exceptional tools, both for those with the disease and those who care for them.
“I’m looking forward to seeing more developments in the technology sector when it comes to addressing the issue of Alzheimer’s,” says Singh. “I’ll be keeping a close eye on it.”
