Living with dementia and memory problems
Using technology with dementia
- GPS tracking devices
- Smart speakers
- Household technology
- Mobile phones, tablets and apps
- Learning to use new technologies
- Discussing technology and social care
This section looks at different types of technology and devices that people found useful to make living with dementia a little easier. We also hear from some people that do not like certain things or can’t get on with technology in general. Anne, for example, prefers to use her diary or paper calendar than digital reminders. There is more about useful non-technological equipment in Tips and strategies for living with dementia.
GPS tracking devices
GPS trackers are small devices that can go in your pocket like a phone or worn like a watch. They can help people feel more confident to go out and about and use public transport. But Tony and Moira told us that the charges can be costly so it’s important to compare what is available and check before signing up to a service. Similar location services may be available on mobile phones.
Derek always wears his lanyard and finds people are helpful when he is out and about. He often uses the bus service and two passengers helped him when he missed his stop.
Lorraine: So, he’s got his lanyard on, which makes people aware he’s got dementia, and also we’re very fortunate that Derek’s got a tracking device, which is like a key fob, and literally that’s a GP. Derek: Can’t get away [laughter], can’t get away. Lorraine: It’s GPS tracked, GPS tracked [Derek laughs] and also it’s got a button on for an emergency call and that call comes direct to my phone if he needs me. And then we got the tracker, which definitely gives you confidence doesn’t it? Derek: Mm hmm. Lorraine: And I know it gives me confidence, because I was worried. Derek: But once you press the button you’ve got to speak very quickly and then get off [laughter] because it’s costing money [laughter]. Lorraine: Sometimes it does go off by accident, if Derek presses the button in his, in his pocket for, somehow and, yeah, so then I’m saying, “Do you need me? Goodbye if not” [laughs]. Derek: Go away, nice talking to you [laughter] So, does that alert your phone then? Lorraine: Yes, yes, so it rings me; so when I see Derek’s fob [laughs] displayed, it’s like, oh my gosh, what’s going on? But it’s come in useful a couple of times. Derek: Well, there were two people there and they knew what they were talking about and they helped me. I think it’s that part of it, if, if you put it out there, people will be helpful towards you; if you sit in a corner and don’t say anything you’re going to be sitting in this corner. Yeah. So, you’re happy to wear your lanyard and? Derek: Oh yeah, I put it out, me, yeah, mm hmm.Getting the GPS tracker restored Derek’s confidence in going out alone.
Getting the GPS tracker restored Derek’s confidence in going out alone.
Alzheimer’s Society has information about using GPS devices. They point out that devices need to be maintained and there will be a cost of connecting to a mobile signal. They also say that it is important that tracking devices are used in the best interests of a person with dementia and to think about how this might affect their privacy.
Smart speakers
Smart speakers are devices that not only play sounds and music but also receive instructions. They are usually connected to the internet through Wi-Fi and can be used for timers, reminders and many other useful actions.
And the other thing is my Alexa, who will probably wake up now, but every morning I put everything in my diary into reminders on the, on her, and so I’m told when to get ready to go out or when there’s going to be a phone call or a Zoom or whatever – I know that before it happens Oh OK And the regular things like taking tablets and things are all in there as well. So, I think that’s great. Oh, OK so that’s all on the, sort of an App that goes through Alexa and it, and that brings, brings up your reminders. Yeah, yeah and I don’t, I don’t put my calendar online, I’ve always had a paper calendar and a paper diary and I wish I could do it the other way round because it then would tell me every time there was something in my diary, and I’ve tried it but I haven’t quite managed to transition onto that. Right, yes. So, I’m finding that really helpful; and again, it’s because it frees me up from worrying or missing things that are important, it frees me up completely that, from that because it’s all – there and I… Yeah, yeah. You can rely on Alexa. Absolutely, she’s great; she’ll even tell me a joke if I need one, so [laughs].Maxine uses her smart speaker to remind her of important tasks and appointments.
Maxine uses her smart speaker to remind her of important tasks and appointments.
Not everyone thinks that smart speakers are helpful. Christine says ‘it’s a waste of time’.
You raised your eyebrows when Alexa was mentioned, do you use Alexa? Howard: No. Trish: I had to change Alexa’s name to a man, he hated it. OK [laughs] Some people find Alexa quite helpful and others don’t, I know. [laughs] Trish: I daresay in the future it may come back into its own, do, do you know what I mean, it might do, but at the moment. Howard: No. Trish: So she’s off. So, OK, OK. Howard: You’re bad enough and without her [laughs].The smart speaker was no good for Howard.
The smart speaker was no good for Howard.
Household technology
Smart speakers like Alexa can do more than just play music and tell jokes. Maxine uses smart plugs, connected to Alexa, to make sure certain devices are properly switched off at night. There are all sorts of smart devices that can connect to phones and tablets so that they can be controlled remotely or pre-set to operate at certain times. Try looking up ‘smart plugs’ online.
Yeah, yeah. So, so that’s, that’s important; I’ve got three of them all round the house and so; and actually I’ve got things, I’ve got smart stuff to turn off electricity at night and things like that now. Oh just tell me about that then. Well I’ve got two smart plugs which are plugged into the television and/or my computer stuff and everything else, and they just are timed with Alexa to turn off overnight and then turn on again in the morning or, or I can just say I want them to turn on or off and they will, they’ll do it. And it, to me it’s just, it’s, it’s obvious, you know [laughs] it just helps.Safety measures like smart plugs help Maxine manage in the house.
Safety measures like smart plugs help Maxine manage in the house.
Richard and Viv have a monitor that chimes when someone comes near to the house. This helps Richard to be aware of his surroundings and when people are coming and going.
Mobile phones, tablets and apps
Mobile phones and tablets are devices that have multiple uses. Apart from making phone calls they can be used for video calling, emailing, ordering shopping and prescriptions and reading or listening to books.
Well, how do you use your, do you use your Kindle for other things than, is it, is it one of these ones that you can email on it and things? I’ll use my Kindle for reading, I’ll use it for emailing and I’ll use it for Zoom and Teams meetings as well; that’s the kind of thing I use that for. My phone I’ll use for browsing, emailing, Facebook, Twitter, social media, that sort of thing I’ll use it for, and, and, and searching.Lorraine uses her Kindle e-reader for emailing and video calling.
Lorraine uses her Kindle e-reader for emailing and video calling.
There are millions of different apps for phones and tablet devices. This can be overwhelming but Lorraine explains that using certain apps can be helpful.
So, you use your phone for reminders and such like, is, are there any other sort of apps or things that you, that you’ve found useful or other people might have told you about? Not really. I use the banking app a lot, I use it a lot, I use my banking apps; I use one every day because that’s the one I use and then I’ll use the other two banking apps that I’ve got, they’re savings accounts, I’ll check them now and again. So yeah, I do use my banking app regularly. I also like it; I’m with Nat West [bank], if I can promote it, and whatever I’ve done, don’t ask me how I’ve done it, but whenever my card is used anywhere, I get a message coming up instantly to tell me it’s been used at such and such a place. So that gives me confidence to know that if I; because I get really confused when I’m out. If I’ve got a handbag, my phone, my purse and a shopping bag, and I, I’m not, I don’t go out shopping alone, I’m not allowed out by myself because I walk in front of buses. If I’m standing and I need to go to the bank I will cross the road regardless of what’s around; so, I never go out by myself. But if I’m carrying too much stuff I will get confused and I have been known to leave my card in a machine or on a counter. But that reassures me knowing that if somebody picks up my card and uses it, I’ve got an alert. And also, on my banking app I can go on and freeze my bank card; I lost it the other day, I had no idea where it was, I froze the card until I found it. It was in my handbag and I unfroze it again; and that gives me independence and I don’t panic. Panic’s a big thing for me; I panic if I lose my card, my phone, you know. I lost my pur, purse last week and I didn’t know where it was, and it was in the house, you know, but I panic. So, these kind of things are helpful to keep me calm and avoid a panic. Yeah. It’s just a way of linking and keeping on, keeping, monitoring what’s going on and. Mm hmm, it is. As you say, that, that, that ability to freeze your, your card and know it’s safe. It’s great. Even if you’ve, if it’s on the train or in your [laughs] in, in your house it’s. That’s right, I know it’s safe then and nobody can use it. So, these are the kind of things that I’ve learned over the years and picked up on.Using a banking app helps to give Lorraine peace of mind.
Using a banking app helps to give Lorraine peace of mind.
Learning to use new technologies
Technology is changing all the time. If you have used computers and technology in your career, it may be easier to keep up to date. Some people, like Sadie, like to challenge themselves by learning new skills on the computer but for Anne, it’s like being lost in a different country.
Does, do you pay your bills online or they come through? No, I can’t do anything technical like that; that’s a big thing that worries me, people try to explain or tell me, I’ve been to a few classes, but my brain just won’t take it in, I can’t understand any of it. I think I’m frightened of it as well, especially where money’s concerned; I do worry about money. So, most of the bills are, are, are direct debit, you know, gas and electric and that sort of thing. My daughter’s put some of the bills on her whatever, computer [laughs] but I don’t particularly like that because I like to be in charge, I suppose [laughs] I’ve always done it and I feel stupid now that I can’t, I can’t do that sort of thing. So, I still use cheques if I pay anybody, or I get cash out to give to people, you know, like trades people, yeah, mm. You know, I have a six-year-old granddaughter and I couldn’t do something with this iPhone the other day and she’s just like that [I laughs] you know, you feel stupid, and you don’t know what they’re talking about. It’s like living in a country where everyone’s speaking a different language; I find that very hard.Anne feels left behind by technology.
Anne feels left behind by technology.
Maxine has always been interested in technology so she finds it easier to get on with new devices.
That’s great. How did you find out about things like that though? Well, I’m a bit techy, as you might have [laughs] I’ve always been a bit techy; I’ve used computers for a very long time and, and I’m not, I’m not frightened of them. There are things that I can’t do, there are things that I wouldn’t try and do now that I might have tried to do before, but I think, certainly someone was saying people think that people with dementia can’t learn and it’s not true at all. I mean, OK, at a certain stage, yes, that might be very difficult and I’m aware that because of the people I’ve known that there’ll be a time when I can’t actually use a phone or I can’t use a computer – but then the longer you’ve used it then the longer you’re likely to retain that. Again, so that’s another reason why right now I’m putting into place things which I think will stay with me, because I’ll have had them for a while before things get worse, hopefully, we’ll see.Learning new skills with dementia is possible, says Maxine.
Learning new skills with dementia is possible, says Maxine.
Discussing technology and social care
Some people we spoke to discussed the concerns and benefits of using electronic devices to help them at home and how technology might become increasingly important in social care.
But I did hear someone on the radio saying, “That’s dreadful that people need things like that to, you know, that, that, that, using technology to manage their lives because they’ve got dementia and they ought to have people caring for them.” I don’t want people coming in and; I, I, it’s not that I don’t like people but I want to have my relationships with my friends and family and I don’t want them to be, you know, if there’s a way of making them not based on being cared for then I’ll do that because it’s more fulfilling.Maxine says using technology helps her maintain her independence.
Maxine says using technology helps her maintain her independence.
Well the difficulty is, is that as people get older, you know, we’re living longer, it’s true, so disability is not increasing, it’s just that it appears to be because people live longer with it [laughs] and there aren’t enough carers around and I think that, you know, the care profession has got to be almost re-evaluated, it’s not, you know, if someone says they’re a carer they’re considered not to be as good as if they’re a teacher and I think that has got to be, that’s got to change because there aren’t enough people to provide care, there aren’t. It’s nothing to do with pay; I mean pay comes into it, of course, but there aren’t enough people. I mean when I was at school one in two females went into nursing, for example; they certainly don’t now. So, I think the day of robots is going to come, not to provide the human touch, the human responsibility, the human care, but I do think robots are going to be used, I do, and why not? You know, to ask you have you taken your medication [laughs] or provide, deliver your meals or whatever, but you, it’s not going to replace the human touch because nothing can, a robot can’t replace that, the human relationship, but I think we’re going to have to accept robots, and a lot of older people aren’t prepared to do that.Jennifer recognises that technology and robots may become part of delivering social care.
Jennifer recognises that technology and robots may become part of delivering social care.
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