Does Electronic Assistive Technology Support Everyday Activities for People with Early Alzheimer's Disease?

摘要

Background: Earlier studies have shown that Electronic Assistive Technology (EAT) can enhance the experience of independence for persons with a Dementia disease. Research has also shown that EAT can make life easier and enhance safety. Still, there is a lack of knowledge concerning their possibility to support an active everyday life in society for people with Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Aim: This intervention study intends to examine the users' and the relatives' experiences of individually adapted EAT based on the users' choices: The research questions are: How does the EAT impact on the ability to perform every day activities? How do the participants and their relatives view the usability of the technology? Method: 15 participants, living at home with early AD, were included in this intervention study with semi-structured interviews with both users and relatives, before and during intervention. The participants were all motivated to try the chosen product(s). Personal activity goals for evaluation were set with COPM [1] (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, Law et al, 1994). The products implemented in this study supported abilities concerning: Orientation/positioning outside home (GPS), control and security at home, time orientation and planning, and to keep in contact with close relatives. Result: The data collection will be ended in the summer of 09, and preliminary findings show that the used EAT affects the everyday activities in several different ways.