The prevalence and considerable challenges of dementia raise concerns as to the sustainability of the United States’ reliance on families to provide care to cognitively impaired relatives in the community. Experts have proposed that various technologies could substitute for or supplement family caregiving. The objective of the current study was to examine whether one of these technological approaches, remote activity monitoring (RAM), was perceived as feasible and useful for family caregivers of persons with ADRD living at home. As part of a larger, 5-year evaluation of the efficacy of RAM, the current study utilized a parallel convergent mixed methods design (QUAL + QUAN). Thirty family caregivers of persons with dementia who have used RAM for at least 6 months were included. Empirical and open-ended data on perceptions of system acceptability and utility were examined at 6, 12, and 18 months following enrollment; correlations, thematic analysis, and a case oriented merged analysis were utilized. Overall empirical ratings of RAM utility and acceptability were moderate at 6 months. Qualitative themes identified included fit, adjustment period, benefits, and drawbacks/recommendations. The case oriented merged analysis suggested considerable patterns of adaptation to RAM over time. The mixed methods findings imply that caregivers perceived RAM as moderately useful, but also that positive adaptation to the technology took place over time. For systems such as RAM to operate effectively in home settings, human guidance and support is necessary for adaptation to take place and allow such technology to successfully support persons with dementia and their family caregivers.
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