Diagnosis of Alzheimer's or dementia is one of the hardest things that can happen to a family. Suddenly --everything changes. Roles switch, and someone takes on the task of caregiving, an extremely devoted and extremely difficult job. Evidence of this lies in the rate of reports of depression among family caregivers that are cited as anywhere between 30% and 83%. Seeing this as a problem that could be fixed, in 2008, researchers at the University of Miami conducted a study on a program that combines a Computer-Telephone Integrated System (CTIS) with traditional support and therapy to see if the CTIS promoted a decrease in reports of depression.
The CTIS comprised the traditional telephone services of calling and voicemail with mass-message capabilities, a notification feature for reminders from the caregiver's therapist, monthly teleconferences with other REACH (Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health) caregivers, and a database of caregiver resources that included maps and phone numbers. The study found that the CTIS in conjunction with the REACH program was more effective at reducing caregiver depression than REACH alone.
Quite a compelling study, when one takes the relative simplicity of the technology into account. The system functions as a slightly modified a regular telephone; however, considering that the mean age of caregivers was 69 years can testify to its success. People of that age did not necessarily learn how to use a computer the way the average 5-year-old has to to grow up today. The caregivers were not only given an instruction manual for the CTIS but also were personally trained to use the system to ensure that any show of inefficacy was the fault of the program itself. A more complex program may exist, but that one has a different audience. The simplicity of the CTIS program levels the field for older users and invites more of the family to be connected online. This technology is an example of small, elegant changes of pre-existing technologies to help connect families when they need kinship most.
Having seen my own relatives cope with losing loved ones to Alzheimer's disease, I am moved by this use of technology to help caregivers deal with emotional burden. Caregivers can use this relatively simple tool to keep track of therapy sessions, helping them to maintain their own personal health while also focusing on the health of their loved ones. This technology helps to restore the previous, more routine lifestyle of the caregivers; in my opinion, this restorative kind of technology is much more influential than technological tools that would simply add leisure or convenience to everyday life.
ReplyDeleteTwo critical statements can be taken away from this study. First, technology can be used as a beneficial, restorative tool when an individual's life is somehow disrupted. Second, it represents yet another case in which people who grew up before the age of computers can learn to use technology in a positive way in their own lives. -Lauryn
Intriguing, considering the condition of many caregivers (who often tend to be spouses). The relative simplicity of the "solution" is what I find to be so impressive. Instead of directly approaching a fix for the disease (which is unrealistic at this time) they opted to make the idea of taking care of the afflicted more manageable. My grandmother has severe dementia and it can be very hard for my family to help her when she so easily forgets who we are. Although sobering (as it is not a complete fix), it does shine light on the ability of technology to be applied indirectly to a problem to alleviate the stress on people involved. Very cool
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear about your grandmother's situation, Trevor. The use of technology in almost everything is good news, especially since caregivers are using it also. The CTIS will be a big help in monitoring loved ones.
ReplyDeleteEthan Mudgett