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Level 3

955 points

iPad for elderly/dementia

My mother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and given that it's World Alzheimer Day (at least here in France) and I'm researching new computing hardware, I wondered if the investment in an iPad could be justified.

I know people have worked on iPhone apps to adapt the phone to the needs of the elderly (apparently with better result than the usual "senior phones"), and I can well imagine the interface ought to be intuitive even for people with declining brain function. Typing iPad and dementia in Google gives some interesting hits, too.

Has anyone on here direct experience with use of an iPad by an elderly person with dementia? Any ideas if/how the new functionality in 4.2 might make the thing less usable (I'm thinking of folders and multitasking)?
And ... any ideas if there just might be an upcoming new version with a builtin webcam?? (BTW, are there apps that allow to view someone's webcam ... Skype apparently doesn't support this?)

15² PillowBook 1.5Ghz 2/80Gb w/o hyperdrive, Mac OS X (10.4.11), RIP

Posted on Sep 21, 2010 3:28 AM

35 replies

JonnyP46

Level 1

0 points

Oct 5, 2015 4:00 AM in response to RJV Bertin

Hi there,

I have a slightly different question. I had to put both of my parents into care simultaneously a while ago with Alzheimer's and vascular dementia. They would love to be able to Skype with me and my brother but giving them access to the internet would not be a great decision. Does anyone know if it is possible to disable all apps including safari apart from Skype on an iPad?

Thank you.

TMcKe

Level 1

8 points

Oct 31, 2015 2:25 PM in response to vyshas

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.

TMcKe

Level 1

8 points

Oct 31, 2015 2:29 PM in response to JonnyP46

You might have more success with another type of tablet where it is possible to customize the home screen.

Jun 15, 2016 1:32 AM in response to TMcKe

Our group at the universities of Sheffield/Toronto have also done a lot of research with touchscreen technology and dementia. We have recently launched a website for our AcTo Dementia project that recommends 'dementia-friendly' apps for the iPad - www.actodementia.com - using an evidence-based review process. The site also features guides to support the use of iPads with people living with dementia and information about our research.

Dec 24, 2016 3:20 PM in response to joddrell6891

would you be in connection with any Canadian sources that have use/implement of ipad with Alzheimer's or dementia in nursing home room. I am moving to a different province from my Mom and would love to be able to facetime her. She may not know my name, or even recognize me, but I know she lights up when she sees or hears myself or my children.

iPad for elderly/dementia