Bio-Experiential Technology to Support Persons With Dementia and Care Partners at Home (TEND): Protocol for an...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Digital Health

Background:

• Alzheimer disease and related dementias cause significant distress for individuals and informal caregivers (dyads).
• Barriers like cost and lack of dyadic-focused treatments limit access to psychosocial care.
• Technologically informed interventions, including serious gaming, show promise for dementia care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a dyadic,
• bio-experiential
• intervention toolkit for persons with dementia and their caregivers.
• The platform aims to enhance sustained attention, positive emotions, and active engagement within dyads.
• This paper details the protocol and conceptual model for intervention development, emphasizing a research, design, and development partnership.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the NIH stage model (stage 1A) combined with user-centered design principles.
• Conducted focus groups with dementia care providers (N=10) and dyads (N=11) to understand user needs.
• Engaged dyads in iterative prototype development through up to 20 platform beta testing workshops.

Main Results:

• Focus groups highlighted the need to balance individualization with dyadic connection and avoid overly complex stimuli.
• Focus groups with providers, persons with dementia, and caregivers have been completed.
• Four iterations of beta testing workshops with dyads have been conducted, informing further development.

Conclusions:

• Technological interventions, specifically
• bio-experiential
• technology, offer a viable approach to support the emotional health of dementia dyads.
• A collaborative process involving research, design, and development is crucial for creating effective bio-experiential technology.
• Future research will focus on testing the platform's feasibility and its impact on clinical outcomes and mechanisms of action.