Applying Technology in a Hybrid-Fashion to Create Dementia-Inclusive Community Spaces

Abstract

While there is currently no cure for dementia, socially prescribing activities can enhance wellbeing for people living with dementia (PLWD). However, accessibility to such activities can be hindered by location, being unaware of activities, scheduling issues, or lack of interest in the specific activity. The COVID-19 pandemic further complicated accessibility and changed how coordinators of such programs thought about technology. This PhD research explores how technology can improve accessibility to community spaces and programs for PLWD and their informal carers. The first study involved understanding how technology used for social programs changed during the pandemic and developing guidelines for how program coordinators and technologists can adapt and develop technology for disseminating social programs. The current study aims to discover what elements may be necessary for spaces and programs to feel accessible for PLWD and how these elements can be translated or manifested through technology.