Technology Assistance in Dementia (Tech-AiD): A Framework for Care in the Digital Age

Abstract: Recent advances in digital technologies hold promise for supporting aging adults and their care partners as they navigate changes in cognitive and daily functioning associated with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD). Commonly owned digital technologies, like smartphones, include features that could help maintain independence and reduce caregiver burden. However, we lack models for successful integration of technologies into treatment of persons with ADRD. We propose the Technology Assistance in Dementia (Tech-AiD) framework for aiding persons with ADRD and their care partners with using digital technologies to reach individualized goals. We discuss how technology use is impacted by a multitude of factors, including severity of cognitive impairment, technology proficiency, and barriers to adequate and equitable care, all of which are further complicated by health disparities. Further, we explore the potential benefits of technology use among patients with ADRD and their care partners, highlighting pertinent clinical and ethical challenges and drawing from evidence-based strategies to promote practical recommendations.

Funding: This work was funded under a Career Development Award by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number U54AG063546, which funds NIA Imbedded Pragmatic Alzheimer’s and AD-Related Dementias Clinical Trials Collaboratory (NIA IMPACT Collaboratory).