iPad for elderly/dementia

Just came across this discussion and it is very TIMELY.

I have some ideas about an interface for the iPad Air that I would like to know how to find someone to build it for me? We take care of my mother in law and we are putting her into an assisted living facility (dementia).

I want to create a UI on the iPad that does about 4-6 things.

Automatically starts FaceTime when a call comes in from only her sons and daughter. NO other phone calls accepted unless added to the list by the family.

Has big buttons on the UI that says "Call Kelly" "Call Kyle" etc for when she wants to call her kids (again using FaceTime so she can see them)

Has a screen saver that shows the date, time, weather, a note from one of her children

A program that pops up a big reminder that says "Take your medicine" and logs it when it it clicked on by her to say ok.

Other ideas to come.

But, something simple and easy to use. The iPad will sit in a stand on the table or counter at all times. Not to be carried around.

Thoughts, comments and suggestions sought and appreciated.

Thanks

OG

I just stumbled across this post. I am an avid ipad and iphone user; I love them and use them daily. But, I purchased an ipad for a relative with alzheimers, and it was not the useful tool I had hoped. My main interest was video conferencing with family, to help the person keep in touch with children and grand children. I also thought it would be easier for reading the paper online (rather than on a laptop) and that I could sync with a remote calendar I maintained to create reminders of appointments and birthdays for her.

Alzheimers impairs the brain's ability to learn new information and new processes. I thought the ipad would be simple to learn, but was completely wrong. Even though the person was in early stages, she had no ability to learn the ipad interface. The touch interface was also a problem because her hands shake. She couldn't even remember where the home button was, although I think this was aggravated by the black-on-black design. The whole experience backfired in that it not only did not provide a positive experience, it was actually quite negative -- trying to learn the new tool but being unable to do so ended up stressing her out and getting her very embarrassed and upset. (I tried it over a period of time to see if repetition helped, but eventually gave up because she would become visibly stressed by trying to deal with it.)

So, it might be useful in some situations. But I just want to caution folks that it's not some tech panacea.

As I am writing this, there are 9,140 views of this thread but very few posts. There is obviously great need and interest in this topic. Apple, you offer so much for children with disabilities and education of young people. Do you have any programs for people like me to test the iPad in the field of aging? As a caregiver, I interact with people with Alzheimer's and dementia and their families every day when I spend time with my Mom. I recently lost my job and have no way to afford an iPad but I would be thrilled to be part of a study that would perhaps provide an iPad to her nursing home as a pilot.

southrnflower, in hospice I work with end stage Alzheimer's and as such, I use pretty simple apps because anything too advanced becomes frustrating. The list provided above is an excellent beginning - I find that my patients respond best to three types of apps; Expression (Drawing and Doodling), Experiential (Nature, Observation, Life Skills), and Music (Listening and Creating). The music ones are very effective because the reward for touching the screen is immediate. One not listed above that my patients particularly enjoy is a guitar, they love strumming. I recently made amazing progress with a very closed off patient and an app that offers a banjo called MisoMusic. One app that is not listed that my patients love and ask to do again and again is Cake Doodle. There are several put out by one company that allow you to add ingredients from a recipe, mix the batter, bake the cake and then decorate it (also cookie doodle, candy doodle, and another that is for frozen treats). My 5 year old dtr LOVES this game and I tried it on a lark with a woman one day and the response was incredible. I feel, without any scientific proof, that there is some sort of body memory related to cooking that I might be tapping into, but that is just a guess. The app is very entertaining. Don't overlook the beauty of Pandora either. Being able to play a genre of music for a person at will is incredible valuable, especially with this population. For someone who has LT memories it can assist them greatly! Does this help.

Also - I echo your sentiments. That is a lot of hits, there is clearly an interest and a need for information in this area.I am going to look into a way I can conduct some research, but I current work for a "for profit" organization which would make this a challenge.

Stay tuned!

My girlfriend and I make an app called Postcards, aimed at the elderly, that lets them receive photos, videos and messages from their family. We only just launched but we have a few users in their nineties that are able to use it without difficulty, and a retirement home that specializes in dementia that's interested in getting it for all their residents. So it's not fully tested in this situation yet, but I'd love to have a conversation with any of the people on here about seeing if it helps. You can see how it works at www.postcardsapp.com - if anyone would like to discuss it please let me know at rich [at] postcardsapp.com. My own grandmother struggled with Alzheimers and it would be great to feel like something I've made might help others with that.

Thanks,

Rich.

Hi, I just came across all these discussion on development of apps/generations of iPad for older person. Am excited to see the forward development for the silver generation. Am also sourcing out for solutions or customization of iPads/tablets which can be use for older person who are home-bound, staying alone without caregivers most of the time. Am working in a Senior Activity Centre in Singapore. Hope that such development can be seen in Asia with relevant context. =)

re iPad for elderly/dementia

from your post 2.5 years ago:

"...Post-Graduate project ... creating an app for patients suffering from Alzheimer's"

What progress did you make on this app?

A dear friend of my is in early stages of AD. I'm a professor of IT at Seneca College where we have some resources for systems development. Before reinventing wheels, I've been researching and came across your post.

I am very interested in Jenna's work with iPads and people with Alzheimer's/dementia. The links she provides are no longer active and the last one posted in January, 2011. I would like to start up the discussion again, locate more resources and especially hear about experienes others might have. I would ulimately like to write a grant or otherwise convince administators at the nursing home where my Mom lives to purchase an iPad. Supporting documentation of success would be very helpful. Thanks for your help!

I know this is going to sound like blasphemy on a Apple site, but there is a computer designed especially with seniors in mind.

http://www.mywowcomputer.com/

It runs Linux, it has it's own software and doesn't need anti-virus or all that.