Information and Communication Technology Systems to Improve Quality of Life and Safety of Alzheimer's Disease Patients: A Multicenter International Survey

Abstract

Within the frame of the European Commission funded Smart Home for Elderly People (HOPE) Project, relatives/caregivers of 223 Alzheimer's Disease (AD) patients were recruited in Italy, Spain, and Greece for a multicenter international survey on the potential role of Information and Communication Technology system (ICT-systems) for AD patients. A five-minute video on HOPE ICT-systems was shown, and all relatives/caregivers completed a 13-item questionnaire that evaluated the potential role of: A) ICT-systems in improving quality of life, care, and safety; B) devices for monitoring personal movements, medication use, and ambient environmental conditions; C) devices to improve communication, home-based rehabilitation, and reduction of specific risks; and D) possible agreement in using ICT-systems by AD patients. Relatives/caregivers reported that ICT-systems could be very useful to improve: A) quality of life (66.4%), care (56.1%), and safety (87.0%); B) monitoring bed rest and movements (80.7%), medication use (87.4%), and ambient environmental conditions (85.2%); and C) emergency communication (83.4%). Relatives/caregivers reported that ICT-systems could be significantly more useful for AD patients aged 75-84 than patients aged <75 or ≥85 years (p < 0.0001) and with moderate than mild or severe dementia (p < 0.0001). Relatives/caregivers aged ≥50 years and with low educational level considered ICT-systems more useful than relatives/caregivers aged <50 years (p < 0.0001) and with high educational level (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, relatives/caregivers considered that the HOPE ICT-system could be useful to improve the management of AD patients.

Evaluation of the educational technology "Caring for dependent people" by family caregivers in changes and transfers of patients and tube feeding

“…These results are similar to an international multicenter study 16 conducted with family caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease who reported that the use of ICT can be very useful to improve the quality of life, care and safety, monitoring rest and movement, use of medication, environmental conditions and emergency communications. These data confirm that family caregivers considered that the Smart Home for Elderly People (HOPE) technology system could be very useful to improve the management of patients.…”

“…In this sense, given the socio-demographic characteristics of caregivers, access to technology is an expressive reality. A recent study 16 that describes family caregivers aged ≥ 50 years and with low education considered the ICT as most useful than family caregivers aged <50 years (p <0,0001) and those with high educational level (p <0, 0001). However, the basic skills to use computers to access the Internet and to seek health information, are clearly higher in those with more years of formal education and strongly correlated with the level of e-literacy in health 20 - 22 .…”

Acceptability Among Community Healthcare Nurses of Intelligent Wireless Sensor-system Technology for the Rapid Detection of Health Issues in Home-dwelling Older Adults

“…However, Rantz et al (2015) indicated that no evidence existed that sensors were more effective than usual care in a nursing care coordination model [7]. This new type of intervention strategy could reinforce and preserve independence and quality of life, thus enabling this vulnerable group to remain at home longer, even if they have moderate neurocognitive impairment [8]. …”

A passive positioning alarm used by persons with dementia and their spouses – a qualitative intervention study

“…According to research in the area, use of ICT in the care of persons with dementia has increased [2,16,17]. A wide range of technologies exist that are intended to support the daily life of persons with dementia and their relatives, e.g., GPS (global positioning system) tracking technologies [18-20].…”