Technology-enabled care (TEC) for people living with dementia at home
The research practice partnerships have produced short evidence briefings in response to questions raised by partner agencies
Technology-enabled care (TEC) for people living with dementia at home
In social care, technology-enabled care (TEC), or ‘Assistive technology and telecare’ (ATT) is increasingly used to support people living with dementia to maintain independence in their home. More generally, it is thought that technology may also be helpful to improve people’s quality of life by helping with the things they do in their daily lives, managing risks to their safety, and for supporting leisure activities and communication.
Kath Leman (Evidence Champion and Occupational Therapist) and Karen Gray (Researcher in Residence) from North Somerset Council have developed an evidence briefing about Technology-enabled care (TEC) for people living with dementia at home. To do this they worked alongside Amanda Threlfall, who cared for her husband who was living with dementia at home, and Fiona Henchie (Physiotherapist and member of the TEC team in North Somerset).
The evidence they found
Reflective question
- What do you do to make the most of the available technology to support people living with dementia and carers in their day-to-day lives?
Carer perspective
Amanda Threlfall explains how she and her late husband David installed their own technology to support his wellbeing while he was living with dementia.
"I think it’s important to understand that technology isn’t just safety related, using tech to improve the environment can reduce the unmet needs for the person with dementia, helping to reduce the situations where accidents can happen and contribute to carer burnout. By proactively engaging with the person and their carer to explain how this may improve their wellbeing it may help acceptance." (Amanda Threlfall, Family carer)
Reflective question
- Do the people you support and their carers have concerns about using technology and how do you work with them around this issue?
Key messages
- Person-centred assessment will help assessors to understand how the person wants to live at home and in social environments and ensure that technology will meet their needs.
- Information about the technology should be understandable and accessible to the person, their carers and family.
- Technology should be checked to make sure it is installed properly and reviewed regularly.
- Technology can enhance lives as well as address safety concerns.
