Technology-enabled Person-centred Care: Maintaining Safety and Dignity for Dementia Patients During Unsupervised Periods
By Omolara Oluseun Juba1,; Juba Idowu David2
1Director, Adult-prime safety Health & Wellness Foundation1
2Co-Founder, Adult-Prime Safety Health & Wellness Foundation, Amuloko, Nigeria.2
For many families and carers, one of the most difficult aspects of dementia care is managing the times when a person living with dementia is alone or without direct supervision. These periods can be important for maintaining independence, dignity and quality of life, but they can also bring increased risks, including wandering, falls, medication errors and other safety concerns.
Advances in technology can help support people living with dementia during these unsupervised periods. When used as part of a person-centred approach, smart technologies can improve safety while helping people maintain their autonomy and continue living their daily lives with greater confidence.
Balancing safety and independence
Many people living with dementia want to remain active, continue familiar routines and retain as much independence as possible. The challenge is finding ways to reduce risk without unnecessarily limiting freedom or creating a sense of constant surveillance.
Technologies such as motion sensors, smart medication dispensers, GPS devices, environmental monitors and automatic fall detection systems can provide an extra layer of support without continuously monitoring a person’s every movement. These systems are designed to recognise unusual activity and notify caregivers only when something appears out of the ordinary. This allows support to be provided when it is needed while respecting privacy and independence.
Just as importantly, technology works best when it is tailored to the individual. Personal preferences, cognitive ability, daily routines, living arrangements and personal values should all guide decisions about the appropriate level of monitoring and support.
Putting people at the centre
Technology can provide reassurance for both people living with dementia and their caregivers, reducing anxiety while helping people remain safely in familiar surroundings for longer. However, successful implementation depends on much more than installing devices.
A person-centred approach begins with understanding each individual’s needs, goals and preferences. Wherever possible, people living with dementia should be involved in decisions about the technologies used to support them. Caregivers also need appropriate training and ongoing support to use these tools effectively, while monitoring systems should be reviewed regularly as needs change over time.
Privacy, dignity and autonomy should remain at the heart of every decision. Technology should not replace human care but enhance it and should be introduced in ways that respect cultural values, personal choices and each person’s right to maintain independence and control over their lives while remaining safe and supporting their continuing participation in meaningful activities.
Looking ahead
Technology is creating new opportunities to support people living with dementia during periods without direct supervision. By combining smart technologies with person-centred care, it is possible to better balance safety, independence and quality of life, giving greater confidence and peace of mind to people living with dementia and to those who care for them.
To learn more about the potential for technology to support person-centred care, you can subscribe to the Australian Journal of Dementia Care.