Technology Assistance in Dementia (Tech-AiD): A Framework for Care in the Digital Age
April 24, 2024
IMPACT Career Development Awardee, Andrew Kiselica, PhD, is among authors exploring digital technologies for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). They discuss how a Technology Assistance in Dementia (Tech-AiD) framework could help people living with dementia (PLWD) and their caregivers use digital technologies to reach individualized goals. The authors also consider current technology usage, barriers and potential health disparities in a new article.
Recent advances in digital technologies hold promise for supporting aging adults and their care partners as they navigate changes in cognitive and daily functioning associated with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). Commonly owned digital technologies, like smartphones, include features that could help maintain independence and reduce caregiver burden. However, systems lack models for successful integration of technologies into treatment of persons with ADRD. The authors propose the Technology Assistance in Dementia (Tech-AiD) framework for aiding persons with ADRD and their care partners with using digital technologies to reach individualized goals. They discuss how technology use is impacted by a multitude of factors, including severity of cognitive impairment, technology proficiency, and barriers to adequate and equitable care, all of which are further complicated by health disparities. Further, the authors explore the potential benefits of technology use among patients with ADRD and their care partners, highlighting pertinent clinical and ethical challenges and drawing from evidence-based strategies to promote practical recommendations.