INITIAL DEVELOPMENT, APPLICATION, AND RESULTS FROM A TECHNOLOGY-BASED COGNITIVE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME FOR PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE: THE REACT[1] PROGRAMME

Abstract

Dementia is a major public health issue worldwide, and at a personal level living with dementia puts severe strain on the lives of people with dementia and caregivers when they need to cope with declining cognitive and functional ability. Consequently, it is vital to move forward acceptable, efficient, and cost-effective solutions to enhance level of function and well-being of people with dementia. Various forms of technology are recognized to have potential to support cognitive and functional ability of people with dementia, e.g. touch-screen technology with easy-to-use mobile applications (apps). A growing number of such dementia friendly apps are being promoted, but the actual implementation and continual use of such technology in everyday life is rarely addressed. This study aims to investigate how a mobile app, delivered on a touch screen device, can be designed to meet the special and individualized needs of people with dementia, and how this technology can be successfully implemented in the daily life of the users. The ReACT app was developed through an iterative innovation process, where people with Alzheimer's disease and caregivers participated in the design, user tests and adaption of the app. The ReACT app is a multi-functionality app supporting memory, structuring and communication in a personalized and adaptable manner. To facilitate the use of technology, a software management tool (Mobile Device Management) has been developed for the touch-screen device, to relieve the users of the often troublesome process of setting up of the device and updating software. The programme of technology-based cognitive rehabilitation was established as a gateway to implementation of the technology in an individualized manner. A proof-of-concept study, including 24 people with early stage Alzheimer's disease, is conducted to investigate the feasibility and applicability of this programme. The study is ongoing. Results will be available in April 2017. This study will give insight into how tailor-made adaptable software technology for people with dementia can be developed through a participatory design process, and how the continued used of this technology can be enhanced through a tailor-made individualized rehabilitation programme.