Muistisairaan ihmisen kokemukset teknologiasta osana arkea - turvaa vai tunkeilevuutta

Abstract

This study deals with the adoption of assistive dementia technology for daily living and the users’ and family members’ experiences of the devices. The framework to this study was Lawton´s ecological model. An ethnographic approach was used when interviewing and observing people with dementia using such technology. The first study was carried out 2004-2007. The target group involved 25 people with dementia living in their own homes with a family care-giver or alone, their family members and five professionals from municipal home care services. A total of 29 different devices were introduced in the participants’ homes. The second data collection stage took place 2012-2014. It involved 20 people with dementia. The participants used a GPS watch tracker. Based on the experiences of people with dementia and their family members, the study explored how technology can be used to meet the people’s needs and support their daily living at home in an ethical manner and how technology should be brought into use effectively. Data were analyzed using content analysis. When exploring the everyday challenges and needs as regards technology, family members worried about physical insecurity, while people with dementia discussed insecurity from psychological and social perspectives. Their objective was to remember better, and to use the devices for this purpose. Social needs, retention of autonomy and mobility needs were among the most important daily living needs by people with dementia. Their challenges were loneliness, problems related to the deterioration of memory and ability to function, as well as restricted mobility. Technology could be useful in overcoming these challenges, provided that attention is paid to the social network, continual guidance, the right timing of introducing technology and motivation. Ethical use of technology can be enhanced by holistic sensitivity to the user’s own experiences. A technology-using environment is less restrictive to the autonomy of people with dementia, compared to an environment without technology. Technology can, however, also have negative effects if it contains elements that disturb daily living or stigmatize the user.