Designing an ICT-based Training System for People with Dementia and their Caregivers

Demographic change is a challenge for every individual, families, society, science, the economy and the labor market, for social security systems and for policy as a whole. The challenge will increase with every year and the risk of suffering from dementia and therefore, being in need of care is increasing. To Care for those who are in need is a responsibility for the whole society. The use of ICT-based technologies combined with a holistic approach may support and promote a self-sustaining life-style for people with dementia and their caregivers. In this context, ICT-based solutions are a promising approach for patients suffering from early stage dementia and their caregivers. The objective of the PhD study is in the initial stage (pre-study), to analyze empirically the given practices in the specific field of dementia care in form of a requirement analysis. The next stage comes up with a design for an ICT artifact related to the findings of the first phase, and in the third stage, the author investigates the appropriation of the technical artifact over a longer period of time in different settings. The doctoral colloquium will serve as a platform to discuss and share current research activities, methodology, future publications and experiences in the field of qualitative work with respect to technology design for people with dementia.