engleski

How can technology help people with(out) dementia

Human population is becoming older, longevity marks our epoch and todays mankind. But longevity, as a result of whole civilization, development, including technological progress, has its price. There are many cases when human body, over time, requires certain aids due to physical handicap. People have been relying on aids since ancient times, and as they are older, the number of different aids increases. Simple aids such as rod, slings, walkers, trolleys have been used for centuries, and ' glasses, hearing aids, dentures and other prostheses came soon afterwardswith technological development. It took some time to develop lenses despite existing glasses, electrical trolley, or dental implantation while every new aid went through more or less criticism and through the stage of proof. Of course, some attempts were not (fully) successful, but we are witnessing the fact that people want to overcome their handicaps or at least diminish them. Longevity has changed morbidity, but also disability. With dramatic prolongation of the average life expectancy dementia is ever more prevalent, manifested as cognidve deficits but also gradual physical disability. Before some cure for dementia is found, modern man needs to search for solution how to overcome the existing difficulties and improve care and quality of life of people with dementia and their families and caregivers. New assistive technology is the answer for that challenge. We already have many ideas for raising the quality of life in people with dementia, from simple applications to various (human-like) robots, self-driven cars, smart homes, etc. In the (near) future, there will certainly be much more to do in this field. Despite much skepticism which will for sure occur, sophisticated assistive technology will be something that the elderly, including people with dementia, can rely on.

dementia ; technology ; longevity ; care ; quality of life

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