Digital care applications for people with dementia
Dementia can be caused by different changes in the brain. Complete recovery from dementia is often not possible. In addition to medical services, the use of digital care applications can help people with dementia. Digital care applications are programs that can be used as an app or web application on digital devices such as smartphones, tablets or PCs.Digital applications can be used by people with dementia to promote physical and mental health. For example, in digital exercise sessions, people with dementia can use personalizable games in apps to train their memory and maintain cognitive performance. There are also apps that use special exercises to help people with health impairments reduce the risk of falls as well as maintain mobility and independence. When using digital apps, the following is recommended:
1) Strengthen existing competences
Choose exercises that promote areas where individuals still have skills to maintain.
2) Avoid overload, stress and frustration
Avoid content with a high likelihood of overwhelm, stress, and frustration.
3) Joy of life and recognition
The focus of exercises should always be on recognition and sense of achievement. The aim is a playful engagement with exercises to stimulate brain activity.
4) Short sessions
Perform several short exercises a day. 10 minutes is a good guideline since too long units lead to overstraining.
The DIGITAAL life app is an example of a digital application for activating cognitive performance. https://digitaal.life/de/unser-angebot/
Digital applications are also available for informal caregivers and family members of people with dementia. For example, there are digital applications for caregivers that serve to improve communication and the transfer of information in the context of caring for people with dementia. For example, important information, such as how to take medication on time, can be viewed and help to facilitate and improve the care situation. Digital applications include not only apps, but also intelligent sensors. For example, caregivers can be informed when the incontinence material needs to be changed.
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