Technological innovations in creating smart devices are transforming the lives of people with dementia and their caregivers, allowing them to live independently and with ease in their own houses. Dementia is by no means inevitable due to aging however, scientists have claimed that it could be avoided if key risk factors are eliminated. Technological innovations, known as "assistive technology" could help the patients and their caregivers to establish their routine and quality of life. "Internet of things" is one such innovative and novel approach to help dementia patients to live independently with the help of smart medicine bottles and connected devices. 'Internet of Things' (IoT) is a campaign which works with a team of dementia patients assisted with smart devices and expert clinicians that instructs them from a different place via IoT. The technology devices collects information, health related (blood pressure, heart rate, glucose level, weight) and environment related (humidity, motion tracking, carbon monoxide level, light, smoke) and transfers the data in real time to clinician. The clinician views the report and contacts the patient directly to guide for further action. A collaborative work of School of Health Sciences and the 5G Innovation Centre at the University of Surrey has come up with ‘Technology Integrated Health Management (TIHM) study, which teams with Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust for two year 'Internet of Things (IoT)' Test Bed. The result of this study is anticipated in early 2018. UK is involved in the project IoT with USD 6.05 million (£5.2m) venture, funded by NHS England. The trial period has begun since December 2016, and is showing success in easing the life of dementia patients and their family members. Approximately 1400 people (700 patients and 700 their caregivers) are being monitored in this trial IoT test. The Alzheimer’s Society has defined dementia as “a set of symptoms that may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language." The growth of dementia is mainly due to lifestyle factors such as level of social interaction, smoking, depression, diabetes, hearing loss, hypertension, obesity, and lack of awareness from an early age about the disease. According to Alzheimer Disease International, there are over 9.9 million new cases of dementia each year, implying one new case every 3.2 seconds. The geriatric population of China, India, and their south Asian and western Pacific neighbors is estimated with the fastest growth. Ambient Activity (or AA; Ambient Activity Technologies Inc.) is another recent innovation by researchers to augment existing programs and activities by diminishing boredom and increasing engagement. The work was recently presented at the 2017 International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care, held in March in New Orleans, Louisiana. AA units are used for managing behavior in people with dementia. The instrument is designed in the shape of a television/radio set and could be hung in a wall for easy accessibility. When the device is switched on, it displays personalized content such as a slideshow of family photos, games, movie clips, and favorite music that has been selected by residents, family members, or staff and preloaded onto the AA unit. AA units could be activated anytime as it uses Bluetooth technology to connect each user with their individualized programming. Sensor socks, pressure mats, Evermind sensors, bed and chair wireless alarm pad system are some tracking devices that are in the market designed for dementia patients and save them from wandering. The sensor socks is a wearable attached in socks, once the patient keeps his foot in the ground the sensor sends a signal to the mobile phone of the caregiver. The pressure mat (mat-on-guard) has a sensor attached in the mat and could be spread as any ordinary mat. The mat is kept on the entrance of room, it alerts the caregiver on a portable and plug-in device when the patient is leaving their room. The Evermind sensor has a built-in wireless internet and is compatible with any type of powered equipment. It alerts the caregiver when any household or medical device is switched on or off. The bed and chair wireless alarm pad system alerts the caregiver, if any assistance is required by the patients, with the help of exit sensors that could be attached in the bed and chair. The rise in information technology has surely eased our lives with its portable and mobile devices. The dementia patient has also gained tremendously from such innovations, such as, picture memory phones and dementia day/night clocks especially designed for them. Picture phones can be programmed to ease the calling and eliminate hassles related to advertisement calling for senior citizens. Dementia day/night clock enables the patients to distinguish between night and day, and also gives them a track of day, month, and year. The technological innovations listed above may not totally cure dementia and related ailments but they may eliminate the accidents and make the disease more manageable than ever before.
