New technology could go a long way in helping West Shore residents and caregivers watch over people with dementia more efficiently and effectively.
The two devices were created as a result of a number of focus groups led by CanAssist (which develops assistive technologies) earlier this year with caregivers, professional caregivers and industry professional. The devices are meant to address the tipping points for caregivers who were burnt out or so anxious they put parents into homes.
The first device is the Wandering Redirect System aimed at redirecting people with dementia from going outside. According to Leo Spalteholz, engineering manager with CanAssist, people with dementia often get confused with daytime and nighttime and as a result, they become more active in the evening and at night then want to go outside.
The tablet-sized device can be installed on the inside of the front door and can detect when thereB次元官网网址檚 motion in front of it. The device will redirect people using personalized text or video messages from caregivers telling them not to leave the house, saying things such as B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 nighttime, all the shops are closed right now. ItB次元官网网址檚 not a good time to go outB次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址淗i mom, itB次元官网网址檚 a bad time to go out. If you need anything call me.B次元官网网址�
During the day, the system can also use be used as a highly-simplified schedule, can show and read the date, and a simple summary of appointments and events that day.
The second device is the phone-in monitoring system that allows caregivers to remain in contact with patients with dementia even when they donB次元官网网址檛 answer the phone.
The box hooks up to a telephone line and allows caregivers to phone in when theyB次元官网网址檙e not at home to get a summary of whatB次元官网网址檚 going on in the house, including things like B次元官网网址渢he last activity was in the kitchen five minutes agoB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渢he bed was last occupied at 8:30 this morning.B次元官网网址�
It records conversations in case people at home forget to take messages. Caregivers can also intercom themselves into the home and speak directly to them without them having to answer the phone.
According to the Centre on Aging, in 2011, family caregivers devoted 440 million unpaid hours of service across the country.
B次元官网网址淎 lot of this caregiving falls on families and people make do and itB次元官网网址檚 great because they know the individuals the best,B次元官网网址� said Spalteholz.
B次元官网网址淭he issue is when caregivers burn out, then situations deteriorate very rapidly and often it falls on the system. ItB次元官网网址檚 something that if we can support caregivers to make sure they can effectively care for those people then it can keep people from being forced into care.B次元官网网址�
There are currently four wandering redirect systems in the field and three phone-in monitoring systems being used in peopleB次元官网网址檚 homes. University of Victoria researchers hope to get 15 families testing each prototype device.
The technology and installation is free to families with dementia. In return, they will be asked to provide feedback on the effectiveness of the technology so researchers can gather data on who the devices are effective for and improvements that can be made.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
