All of us, regardless of age, strive to stay meaningfully engaged in life. We all get there in different ways, whether it’s through friend and family connections, spirituality, music, games, travel, etc. Engagement is how we stay relevant. Senior Living communities can find it difficult to provide meaningful engagement for residents undergoing physical and cognitive decline, particularly those living with dementia. Technology can provide an ideal solution.

 

Contrary to the preconceived notion of technology disrupting personal connections, technology-delivered recreational activities and therapies can mitigate the feelings of boredom and loneliness that older adults living with dementia experience all too often. As Senior Living leaders, and in particular Memory Care administrators, undergo a period of disruptive change that is giving rise to the implementation of a relationship-centered way of living, the integration of person-based technology into activity and therapy programming is gaining momentum. Person-based technology is improving quality of life by lessening isolation, increasing a sense empowerment and well-being, and in many cases, by alleviating behavior expressions resulting in the reduction of psychotropic drugs given to residents living with dementia.

 

Learn how organizations throughout the country have made the connection between technology and improved quality of life and have successfully integrated person-centered engagement technology into their memory care programing to lessen isolation, improve quality of care and in many cases, to alleviate behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in a non-pharmacological manner. In addition, we examine a variety of future technologies that will help people stay engaged and connected regardless of where they are in the wellness continuum. Today these experiences are considered innovative, tomorrow they will be demanded.

 

• Understand how specific types of interactive technologies can be adapted for individuals with dementia
• Acquire practical strategies to integrate person-centered, technology-delivered recreational programs that have been designed for individuals experiencing cognitive and physical decline
• Assess research that is validating the benefits of integrating person-centered engagement technology as part of person-centered initiatives and programs