Assessment of need and practice for assistive technology and telecare for people with dementia—The ATTILA (Assistive Technology and Telecare to maintain Independent Living At home for people with dementia) trial
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Date
2019-09-03Author
Forsyth, Kirsty
Henderson, Catherine
Davis, Lucy
Singh Roy, Anusua
Dunk, Barbara
Curnow, Eleanor
Gathercole, Rebecca
Lam, Natalie
Harper, Emma
Leroi, Iracema
Woolham, John
Fox, Chris
O'Brien, John
Bateman, Andrew
Poland, Fiona
Bentham, Peter
Burns, Alistair
Davies, Anna
Gray, Richard
Bradley, Rosie
Knapp, Martin
Newman, Stanton
McShane, Rupert
Ritchie, Craig
Talbot, Emma
Hooper, Emma
Winson, Rachel
Scutt, Bethany
Ordonez, Victoria
Nunn, Samantha
Lavelle, Grace
Howard, Robert
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Forsyth, K., Henderson, C., Davis, L., Singh Roy, A., Dunk, B., Curnow, E., Gathercole, R., Lam, N., Harper, E., Leroi, I., Woolham, J., Fox, C., O'Brien, J., Bateman, A., Poland, F., Bentham, P., Burns, A., Davies, A., Gray, R., Bradley, R., Knapp, M., Newman, S., McShane, R., Ritchie, C., Talbot, E., Hooper, E., Winson, R., Scutt, B., Ordonez, V., Nunn, S., Lavelle, G. & Howard, R. (2019) Assessment of need and practice for assistive technology and telecare for people with dementia—The ATTILA (Assistive Technology and Telecare to maintain Independent Living At home for people with dementia) trial. Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, 5, pp. 420-430.
Abstract
Introduction
The objective of this study was to define current assistive technology and telecare (ATT) practice for people with dementia living at home. Methods
This is a randomized controlled trial (N = 495) of ATT assessment and ATT installation intervention, compared with control (restricted ATT package). ATT assessment and installation data were collected. Qualitative work identified value networks delivering ATT, established an ATT assessment standard. Results
ATT was delivered by public and not-for-profit telecare networks. ATT assessments showed 52% fidelity to the ATT assessment standard. Areas of assessment most frequently leading to identifying ATT need were daily activities (93%), memory (89%), and problem-solving (83%). ATT needs and recommendations were weakly correlated (τ = 0.242; P < .000), with ATT recommendations and installations moderately correlated (τ = −0.470; P < .000). Half (53%) of recommended technology was not installed. Safety concerns motivated 38% of installations. Discussion
Assessment recommendations were routinely disregarded at the point of installation. ATT was commonly recommended for safety and seldom for supporting leisure.