Dementia care frameworks and assistive technologies for their implementation: a review

Abstract

In this review, we focus on the various integrated care models that have been applied for the management of dementia patients. We explore the different types of assistive technologies (mobile, wearable, and home-based systems) for dementia care, with a special emphasis on technologies that involve or target the informal caregiver as end user. In an attempt to reveal the needs for information sharing, communication, and collaboration between people with dementia and caregivers involved in the effective and integrated management of the disease, we analyze the trends in research and development to date, we seek to understand and reflect upon the state of the art in assistive technologies for dementia, and we highlight domains that appear underexplored, in order to guide future research. We also explore the cost effectiveness of such technologies and integrated care models for the management of dementia patients and comment on current limitations and future trends and directions. Findings indicate the urgent need and the current lack of a comprehensive and cost-effective solution that will incorporate information system technologies for the provision of integrated care services to dementia patients and their informal caregivers.