The everyday use of assistive technology by people with dementia and their family carers: a qualitative study

People with dementia and family carers often use calendars to support time orientation to maintain routine. However, little is known about the use of calendars as a compensatory strategy. This study examines the experience and practicalities of using calendar reminders from the perspective of people with dementia and family carers. Six dyads were recruited and interviewed at home. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to develop a narrative interpreted from an occupational therapy perspective. The themes were reflected on during two subsequent focus groups. Findings suggested that calendars are used either intensively as external memory records or more casually and randomly for reassurance. The familiarity and location of the calendar and its utility to the person with dementia and carer, all contribute to its efficacy. For carers the experience of supporting calendar reminders encompasses practical, cognitive and emotional effort. There was little awareness amongst participants of electronic assistive technology.

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Tracing the successful incorporation of assistive technology into everyday life for younger people with dementia and family carers

Dementia ◽

10.1177/1471301214532263 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 646-662 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Cathrine Arntzen ◽

Torhild Holthe ◽

Rita Jentoft

Keyword(s):

Assistive Technology ◽

Everyday Life ◽

Family Carers ◽

People With Dementia

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End-of-life care: A qualitative study comparing the views of people with dementia and family carers

Palliative Medicine ◽

10.1177/0269216317736033 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 631-642 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Marie Poole ◽

Claire Bamford ◽

Emma McLellan ◽

Richard P Lee ◽

Catherine Exley ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

End Of Life ◽

End Of Life Care ◽

Life Care ◽

Family Carers ◽

People With Dementia

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Making decisions for people with dementia who lack capacity: qualitative study of family carers in UK

BMJ ◽

10.1136/bmj.c4184 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 341 (aug18 1) ◽

pp. c4184-c4184 ◽

Cited By ~ 124

Author(s):

G. Livingston ◽

G. Leavey ◽

M. Manela ◽

D. Livingston ◽

G. Rait ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

Family Carers ◽

People With Dementia

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Narrative citizenship, resilience and inclusion with dementia: On the inside or on the outside of physical and social places

Dementia ◽

10.1177/1471301216639736 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 434-452 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Charlotte L Clarke ◽

Cathy Bailey

Keyword(s):

Data Collection ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Urban Communities ◽

Sense Of Belonging ◽

Service Providers ◽

People With Dementia ◽

The Everyday ◽

Everyday Experiences ◽

Services And Supports ◽

The Individual

There has been little research that addresses the importance of place in enabling resilience and citizenship – most to date focussing on these as a characteristic of the individual. This paper reports on findings from a qualitative study that aimed to explore the everyday experiences of living with dementia within rural and semi-urban communities. Data collection included a sequence of four research diaries and interviews with 13 families living at home with dementia and interviews with service providers and commissioners (a total of 57 diaries, 69 interviews with people living with dementia and 6 interviews with service providers and commissioners). Key themes identified included: Others Knowing and Responding; Socially Withdrawing and Feeling Excluded; Sustaining and Changing Activities; Belonging and Estrangement from Place; Engaging Services and Supports. The study found that familiarity with people and place can be supportive, and these factors support a narrative citizenship in which people can tell a story of inclusion and feeling on the inside. However, this familiarity with place may also create a social barrier and a sense of estrangement, or being on the outside. Narrative citizenship allows us to explore how people with dementia position themselves in relation to others and in so doing, negotiate their own and other’s understandings of dementia. It also allows for people to tell stories about themselves in relation to their sense of belonging in a social and physical place, which augment the personal and political approaches to citizenship and thus offers an approach that enhances individualised yet collective understandings of living with dementia.

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The Impact of Social Distancing Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic on People with Dementia, Family Carers and Healthcare Professionals: A Qualitative Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph19010519 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 519

Author(s):

Hanneke J. A. Smaling ◽

Bram Tilburgs ◽

Wilco P. Achterberg ◽

Mandy Visser

Keyword(s):

Qualitative Study ◽

Home Care ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Family Carers ◽

Term Care ◽

Social Distancing ◽

People With Dementia ◽

The Social ◽

The Impact

Social distancing measures imposed because of the COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges to the health and wellbeing of people with dementia, family carers, and healthcare professionals. This study investigated the impact of these measures on all involved in the care for people with dementia. For this qualitative study, 20 family carers and 20 healthcare professionals from home care and long-term care (LTC) participated in a semi-structured interview. Interviews were analysed using an inductive thematic analysis approach. For people with dementia, the social distancing measures resulted in a deterioration of physical health. The impact on their emotional state and behaviour depended on the stage of dementia. Family carers experienced difficulty coping with visiting restrictions, anxiety regarding safety, and changes in carer burden. Healthcare professionals had an increased workload, and felt guilty about adhering to restrictive measures. Differences between home care and LTC were reported (i.e., societal initiatives focussed on LTC, scarcity of activities for community-dwelling people with dementia, use of personal protective equipment more intrusive for home care). The social distancing measures had a negative impact on persons with dementia, their family carers, and healthcare professionals. More attention is needed for community-dwelling people with dementia and family carers in times of social isolation.

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