Assessment of usefulness of assistive technologies for people with dementia

Dementia affects the brain and results in complex disabilities which impair the ability of people to manage daily tasks themselves. The ENABLE(2) project investigated whether it is possible to facilitate independent living of people with dementia and to promote their well-being through access to enabling systems and products. People with dementia in 5 European countries have tried assistive technologies aimed to support memory and facilitate communication. The results demonstrate that assistive technologies can be useful for people with dementia and their caregivers and can support their independence. Countries with a coherent system for purchasing assistive technologies for those who need them are most likely to take advantage of this potential.