Feasibility and acceptability of an iPad intervention to support dementia care in the hospital setting

Staying in the hospital can be a very stressful experience for older people with dementia. A familiar face and reassuring voice of a family member or friend can offer a sense of safety and comfort.

To explore the feasibility and acceptability of using an iPad Simulated Presence Therapy intervention with hospitalized older people with dementia.

We used a mixed-method design, incorporated video-ethnographic methods, video-recorded observations, and staff interviews.

Four people with dementia from an older adult mental health hospital unit in British Columbia, Canada participated in two weeks of iPad Simulated Presence Therapy intervention. The intervention involved the older person watching a one-minute video prepared by their family prior to receiving care. The video included a reassuring, comforting and supportive message to be played to the older adult with dementia while staff perform a specific care task. The care interactions with the iPad intervention were video-recorded. Staff interviews were conducted to elicit perceived enabling factors and barriers to use the iPad intervention in their practice. Using an inductive and deductive approach, we applied a qualitative thematic analysis to identify themes in our data set.

We identified four themes: (a) positive responses, (b) person-centred care, (c) video content, and (d) technical skills.

The iPad delivered Simulated Presence Therapy is an acceptable and feasible means of supporting the care of older people with dementia in the hospital setting. Considerations for future research and clinical practice are presented.