Affiliations: [a] Department of Medical Sciences, Geriatric Unit and Laboratory of Gerontology and Geriatrics, IRCCS “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza”, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| [b] BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pontedera, Italy
| [c] ICT, Innovation & Research Unit, IRCCS “Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza”, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| [d] Department of Basic Medicine, Neurodegenerative Disease Unit, Neuroscience, and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| [e] Department of Clinical Research in Neurology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, “Pia Fondazione Cardinale G. Panico”, Tricase, Lecce, Italy
Correspondence:
[*]
Correspondence to: Grazia D’Onofrio, Geriatric Unit & Gerontology-Geriatrics Research Laboratory, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Viale Cappuccini 1, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy. Tel./Fax: +39 0882 410271; E-mail: g.donofrio@operapadrepio.it.
Abstract: Background: Significant innovations have been introduced in recent years in the application of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to support healthcare for patients with dementia. Objective: In the present systematic review, our goal is to keep track of ICT concepts and approaches to support the range of activities of daily living for people with dementia and to provide a snapshot of the effect that technology is having on patients’ self-reliance. Methods: We reviewed the literature and identified systematic reviews of cohort studies and other authoritative reports. Our selection criteria included: (1) activities of daily living, (2) ICT, and (3) dementia. Results: We identified 56 studies published between 2000 and 2015, of which 26 met inclusion criteria. The present systematic review revealed many ICT systems that could purportedly support the range of activities of daily living for patients with dementia. The results showed five research bodies: 1) technologies used by patients with dementia, 2) technologies used by caregivers, 3) monitoring systems, 4) ambient assistive living with ICTs, and 5) tracking and wayfinding. Conclusions: There is a potential for ICTs to support dementia care at home and to improve quality of life for caregivers, reducing healthcare costs and premature institutional care for these patients.
Keywords: Keywords: Basic activities of daily living, dementia, information and communication technologies, instrumental activities of daily living
