Giving dementia sufferers the help they need
An EU-funded team of researchers has developed an innovative system that helps Europeans with mild dementia take care of themselves. The COGKNOW ('Helping people with mild dementia navigate their way') project received almost EUR 2 million under the 'Information society technologies' (IST) Thematic area of the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6). Experts say that short-term memory loss is one of the first signs of dementia. So while dementia sufferers are able to carry out tasks, they either do not know how to do them or forget how to perform them. Another symptom that affects dementia sufferers is loss of self-confidence. The more insecure a patient becomes, the more unwilling they are to connect with people socially. The COGKNOW project partners tackled this problem by identifying the different needs of dementia patients and developing a trouble-free and easy-to-use device to meet those needs. 'Separate devices and solutions exist for many of the needs, and if people learn how to use them early on, then they may be able to continue using them quite far into the disease,' explained Dr Johan E. Bengtsson, scientific coordinator of COGKNOW. 'But it then becomes a problem for the patient to remember where the devices are, and how each of them works.' According to the project partners, patients need simplified devices as the disease progresses. However, advanced dementia hinders a patient's ability to use even simple devices. As a result, they need a caregiver's support. The COGKNOW consortium, which comprises medical doctors, software researchers and developers from Europe, developed two simple devices, one for the home and a mobile one that the patient can carry with them. These devices are equipped with touch-screen technology, and what is particularly interesting is the fact that users can purchase the hardware devices and install the COGKNOW Day Navigator software suite for use. 'The application takes control of the device and makes it impossible for the user to activate the more difficult-to-use functions of these devices,' Dr Bengtsson said. Different instructions can be installed on the in-home device, effectively making it easier for the users to go about their daily routines. Reminders including when to brush their teeth, to do the laundry and warm pre-prepared meals can be added to the system. A global position system (GPS) is included in the mobile device. Many people with dementia wander and lose their sense of direction when outside their home. The device is able to guide them home safely. The innovative system has already been tested in three countries. Most users and caregivers noted a boost in the quality of life. The dementia sufferers were able to get through the day with the help of the devices. Some COGKNOW partners are now working to bring it to market. 'About 2% of the population of Europe suffers from mild dementia and it costs an estimated EUR 10,000 a year to provide care for each of them when they cannot cope anymore,' Dr Bengtsson said. 'If COGKNOW only extends people's ability to look after themselves for an extra few months, then the savings are still potentially billions of euro.' The project partners hail from Estonia, France, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK.