In recent years, AI has been used in many aspects of our lives, including the health and social care system. While the technology is still in its infancy, with new developments taking place all the time, it does look like it could help people with dementia, transforming their care.
Do we still need human carers?
Human contact remains vital for dementia sufferers. Although there is a fear that AI will render humans obsolete, in fact, jobs in home care services and nursing homes remain safe with good carers very much in demand. If a job in home care services interests you, consider applying to a specialist agency such as https://www.caremark.ie/job-opportunities/care-assistant-job-opportunities/.
However, AI technology may bring changes to the role, as carers find ways to use these new tools to support their patients.
Use of AI in dementia
AI could be used to support dementia sufferers in maintaining their independence, particularly in the early stages of the disease. Much of this technology is still in development, but one possibility could be an app that uses machine learning and geo-tracking to identify where a patient is and what they may be doing there. This would provide helpful information, for example, that they are at a pharmacy to pick up a prescription.
The aim when developing AI technology is to make sure that it is simple to use. Some projects currently in development are a diary, a digital photo screen and a music player with simple controls. If powered by AI, these could learn to provide a personalised experience.
Much-loved tunes are often something dementia patients remember, even when other memories fade, so a music player could be particularly comforting. To learn more about this, see
Reducing stress is vital in dementia care and the use of a soft toy to cuddle is often used. If AI chatbots were incorporated into these, they could hold the simple dialogues that dementia patients often find easiest.
No two dementia patients are the same and the use of AI to personalise technology could radically help improve their quality of life.
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