Technology to make life easier and safer for dementia patients

NHS England’s National Clinical Director for Dementia, Professor Alistair Burns, has welcomed the Alzheimer’s Society launch of its dementia-friendly technology charter, helping people with dementia live at home for longer.

The charity has created a landmark guide improving access to life-changing technology including products and home modifications.

The charter, developed by a diverse working group led by Tunstall Healthcare, gives people with dementia and their carers information on how to access technology that can make life easier and safer for dementia patients.

Professor Alistair Burns, NHS England national clinical director for dementia, said: “Dementia is a priority for NHS England; we welcome the charter which will be a great help to individuals living with dementia and their families.

“A lot of excellent information about dementia exists but GPs are incredibly busy and certainly don’t have the time to search different sources during a consultation.

“The majority of patients want to stay at home for as long as possible so any information we can provide which helps empower them and their carers is good news.”

The dementia-friendly technology charter has been produced as part of the dementia-friendly communities’ strand of the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia.

It also provides guidance to health, housing and social care professionals on how to make technology work for people based on their individual needs.

Assistive technology, if used in the right way, has the potential to increase independence and autonomy both for the person with dementia and those around them.

NHS England has the ambition that two thirds of people with dementia will have a diagnosis and that they and their carers will have high quality post diagnosis support by 2015.

For more information visit: http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/