An online symposium organised by the INTERDEM Taskforce Assistive Technology and looking at lessons learned regarding technology, dementia and COVID-19, took place during the 30 Alzheimer Europe Conference (#30AEC). Franka Meiland and Manuel Franco, INTERDEM Taskforce Assistive Technology, have written this report: We know that there is still a gap between availability of assistive technologies and actual use in daily dementia care practice. Covid-19 may have influenced this situation and at the 30 AE conference we discussed this in an online symposium organised by the INTERDEM Taskforce Assistive Technology. Speakers from Europe shared their experiences and research results.
It became clear that Covid-19 had a serious impact on people with dementia, like social exclusion, increased loneliness and behaviour changes. Also, frustration among family carers about the loss of contact and seeing their loved one deteriorate in functioning were noted.
Assistive technologies were used more often; some nursing homes equipped residents with tablets and often telephone calls and videos were used as a means of communication with relatives. Other tools, like social robots, could have been used more often. There were also problems encountered when using technologies such as that they were not really attuned to the needs of the persons with dementia, and sometimes not suitable for communication because of the stage of dementia, that they needed help to use them but help was hardly available, that education in using technology by staff was insufficient, or that difficulties with internet connection in the nursing homes exist.
As we are facing a second wave of Covid-19, we should take lessons from the first wave, the speakers in our symposium suggested the following main lessons:
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Make sure good communication between residents and family is possible, either with technology assistance or in other creative ways. A lockdown and visitors ban should really be prevented (dr. H. van der Roest, Netherlands).
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Accelerate the use of technology further by including people with dementia very early in development processes so that their needs are well addressed (dr. A. Barbosa, United Kingdom).
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Good infrastructure is needed to ensure that the technology is not only offered by a few staff members that are keen in using technology, technological support could also be provided by other persons than staff. Also staff education in digital solutions is important (dr. L. Rosenberg, SE).
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A lot is learned in nursing homes from the first wave and the use of technologies and other solutions should be shared among each other (prof. M. Halek, Germany).
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Besides important face-to-face contact, the use of assistive technologies can be very helpful. We need to realize that these are not only relevant for quality of life but that these can be lifesaving. We have seen that many people have died because they could not bear being isolated (prof. M. Franco, Spain).
Considering and sharing these lessons may stimulate further use of technology, hopefully also after Covid-19, and may promote physical, mental and social health of people with dementia and their loved ones.