Adopting assistive technologies for the support and care of people with mild dementia living at home-Understanding...

Assistive technologies may play a crucial role in addressing needs of people with dementia. While technical feasibility often drives development, the decision-making process that might lead to their adoption (or rejection) is not fully understood. We aim to explore contextual factors influencing this process and "necessities" technology should fulfil from the user-perspective, so that the use of assistive technologies can be better targeted- potentially fostering a more supportive home environment.

In this qualitative study, interviews (8 people with dementia and 7 partners) and focus groups (7 focus groups included a total of 29 participants) with individuals with milder stages of dementia living at home and their support/care-network were carried out. Grounded Theory and Structuring Content Analysis were used to analyse the data.

Six main thematic categories outline the decision-making process. The "assessment of (one's own) resources", while evaluating the "(potential) benefits of assistive technologies" contrasts with "(potential) adverse effects" of their use (or their non-use respectively), shaping the context of the decision-making process. There is an appraisal of necessary "(pre-existing) trust" in technology. An a priori "openness towards assistive technologies" intersects latter aspects. A very substantial "need for information" is noted.

While technical feasibility and tailored solutions are important, they are not the sole determinants of assistive technology adoption in this group. The desire to preserve self-determination and independence emerges as a key motive for choosing assistive technologies; technology can also be seen to invoke stress and negative emotions, and will consequently be rejected. Technology should, moreover, be perceived to be "meaningful" on different levels. Considering these points when developing technologies and addressing them when counselling those affected by dementia and their networks may "tip the scale" towards acceptance.