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A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study to Evaluate a Technology Platform for the Assisted Living of People with Dementia and their Carers

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Torkamani, Mariama; * | McDonald, Louisea | Aguayo, Ignasi Saezb | Kanios, Christosc | Katsanou, Maria-Nefelic | Madeley, Laurad | Limousin, Patricia D.a | Lees, Andrew J.e | Haritou, Mariaf | Jahanshahi, Marjana | the ALADDIN Collaborative Group1

Affiliations: [a] Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience & Movement Disorders, UCL Institute of Neurology & The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK | [b] Badalona Serveis Assistencials, Badalona, Spain | [c] The Psychiatric Hospital of Attica, Athens, Greece | [d] Newham University Hospital, London, UK | [e] Reta Lila Weston Institute of Neurological Studies, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK | [f] Institute of Communications & Computer Systems, Athens, Greece

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Mariam Torkamani, Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience & Movement Disorders, UCL Institute of Neurology & The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK. Tel.: +44 0203 448 8733; Fax: +44 0207 419 1860; E-mail: [email protected].

Note: [1] The ALLADIN Collaborative Group included: Raffaella Calati, Yiannis Christopoulos, Francesco D’Andria, Gianpaolo Perego, Vassiliki Psarra, Alessandro Serretti, and Marios Tigas.

Keywords: Carer burden, dementia, distress, institutionalization, quality of life, telecare, telemedicine

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-132156

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 41, no. 2, pp. 515-523, 2014

Accepted 2 February 2014
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Published: 23 June 2014
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Abstract

The use of telemedicine is becoming increasingly popular in assisting with the home management of People with Dementia (PwD) by offering services to the carers that may enhance their ability to care for their relative for longer. A computerized platform, ALADDIN, was evaluated in its usefulness to reduce carer burden and distress and to improve their quality of life, in an attempt to delay institutionalization of PwD. ALADDIN offers educational material about dementia to carers and provides the opportunity to contact other carers and clinicians. ALADDIN also facilitates remote monitoring of the PwD and their carers by the clinicians to enable speedy delivery of appropriate intervention. The ALADDIN platform was piloted at three European sites, and used by thirty carers of PwD living in the community (platform group). The platform group and a control group of thirty PwD and their carers were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. The results showed a significant improvement in the quality of life of the carers in the platform group, with some reduction in carer burden and distress. The platform was useful in monitoring the patients and facilitating contact with other professionals. Access to and use of the ALADDIN platform was rated positively by carers and clinicians. The ALADDIN platform's usefulness and applicability for prolonging the home management of PwD are discussed.

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