Current memory service professional practice surrounding assistive technology in England: What do memory service professionals need in order to provide information on, and support access to, assistive technology for people living with dementia?

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundAssistive Technology (AT) has the potential to support people with dementia to remain independently at home for longer. Unfortunately, to date AT is not fully integrated into Dementia care. A recent European position paper(2) called for better education and training of stakeholders and a central information source in order to successfully deploy AT. Key stakeholders involved in deployment of AT in England are Memory Service (MS) professionals who are the first professionals to give information to people with dementia after diagnosis. This study aims to explore current MS practice surrounding AT.MethodTwo surveys were designed and piloted with MS professionals in England. One survey targeted MS managers/lead clinicians to explore MS characteristics and the other looked an individual professionals practice. Questions included fixed and open‐ended responses. They were distributed by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the National Institute for Health Research to more than 117 MS. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data using thematic analysis.Result665 professionals completed a survey. Professionals lack key resources to provide information and support access to AT; only 7% have access to a protocol and 12% to a demonstrator site, 31% receive training, and 38% have a named professional responsible for AT. Professionals are positive about AT and view AT as a solution to a problem. However, they describe assessing risk, were risk was viewed negatively. Professionals were aware of a range of AT available but concerns were raised about potential knowledge gaps and challenges of keeping abreast with technological advances. Information and access pathways were tailored to the individual resulting in no one pathway to AT.ConclusionOverall, professionals provided an insight into current practice and challenges of giving information and supporting people with dementia to access AT. They also suggested ways to improve the current provision and thus deployment of AT.1. Meiland F, Innes A, Mountain G, Robinson L, van der Roest H, García‐Casal JA, et al. Technologies to support community‐dwelling persons with dementia: a position paper on issues regarding development, usability, effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness, deployment, and ethics. JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies. 2017;4(1).