S14: The use of advanced data and sensortechnology in dementia: innovation and implementation

Abstract

Main Abstract

The use of health care technology to support informal and formal caregivers in decision making for proper guidance of care for people with dementia, is rising over the last decade. For example, (tools within) electronic health records systems, technological devices such as wearables and devices using sensor technology (domotics) are more and more available in health care. Recent developments of artificial intelligence (e.g. machine learning, deep-learning, text mining) can be useful to provide a more advanced use of sensor and other data, and contribute to a better guidance of (person)centered care. However, the use of health care technology (and the data it accumulates) could – when used appropriately and meeting the needs of (in)formal care workers who use this technology- help to relieve the burden of care (in times of lack of staff resources), delay nursing home admission and reduce corresponding costs. Unfortunately, some of these developments, not always meet the needs of care workers and informal caregivers caring for people with dementia.

For health care technology to be able to contribute to personalized dementia care, a combination of innovation (novel technology) and implementation is necessary. A wider use of novel technology on a broader scale is necessary to generate impact. For a proper implementation, several factors such as staff opinions that may be reluctant to using novel technology, data safety and ethical issues have to be taken into account. In addition, a proper training guiding the process of implementation is crucial.

In this workshop, we will provide several examples of applications in health care based on data usage and sensor technology: (1) the use of (the combination of) qualitative and quantitative data for personalized health care, (2) wearable sensors to measure stress, a phenomenon that is regarded as an early warning for the onset of challenging behavior in people with dementia, (3) combination of ambient and body mounted sensors to monitor challenging behavior and to prevent further deterioration, (4) the practical use of communication, tracking and sensor technology to support welfare to people with dementia and caregivers in the community.

In conclusion, this symposium will give insight in the challenges of designing novel technology and its implementation into daily practice, to assist informal and formal cares to be able to deliver person-centered care.