Grant: Project Grant

Because the population is aging and age is a major risk factor for dementia, there is a growing need to develop policies to support people with dementia (PWD) and their caregivers and ensure that resources for health and social services are used responsibly. Dementia results from Alzheimer's disease and other diseases that lead to a decline in cognitive abilities. This decline can become severe enough to interfere with daily life and independent functioning, causing the person to need ongoing help from others. Assistive technology products such as reminding devices and personal emergency systems, and services for assessment, training and maintenance (together called AT) are important for living well, ensuring safety and helping PWD to remain at home. Groups of AT, called AT bundles, are often needed for someone to achieve their goals and to reduce resource waste such as abandoning product use because repairs are too costly. There is limited research evidence to guide policy decisions on AT bundles as a way to deliver services. This research will answer the questions: Is there a case for implementing and investing in AT bundles in dementia management in Canada, and if yes, what policy recommendations may be developed? In this project we will gain a full understanding of the characteristics of AT bundles such as products currently being used and products that can be included, services needed/available, and how AT are paid for. We will review current research and other resources, and conduct a survey and interviews over time with PWD, caregivers and clinicians. We will use this information in design workshops with PWD, caregivers, and others to create ideal personalizable AT bundles for PWD and caregivers that can better meet their goals. These designed AT bundle examples will be used with other information in an economic analysis that will provide the cost of delivering AT bundles and the impacts on PWD, caregivers and the Canadian health and social services systems.