Residents with dementia can benefit from technology, family interaction

People living with dementia can benefit from technology, especially if assisted by family members, according to a new case study example published in the Journal of Gerontological Nursing.

Researchers at the University of Washington followed the progress of an 80-year-old woman with dementia as she used personalized computer technology from It’s Never 2 Late (iN2L). With the help of her 56-year-old daughter, this woman’s score on the Mini-Mental State Examination increased from 16 to 21. In addition, the mother reported that she was particularly satisfied using technology with a family member.

“Empirical research continues to demonstrate what we’ve recognized for years and is the singular purpose driving i2NL—technology that is thoughtfully designed to the needs of people living with dementia considerably improves their quality of life,” said Juliet Kerlin, research director of iN2L, in a press release. “In fact, it provides caregivers with opportunities to support and maximize the residents’ unique strengths. As we can see from this study, such technology also revives engagement and strengthens connections with family members.”