How personalised technology can play an important role in supporting people with learning disabilities as they age and face the onset of dementia

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how personalised technology can be used to support people with learning disabilities as they age and face the onset of dementia.

Design/methodology/approach

National learning disability charity, Hft, focuses on its Gloucestershire service at Old Quarries, using individual case studies of adults with dementia who are using personalised technology on a daily basis to illustrate how personalised technology has made a difference to their lives.

Findings

In all the case studies featured the individuals concerned were able to use personalised technology to empower them to live more independently and safely and to remain at a location where they have lived for many years rather than being moved into alternative, unfamiliar accommodation. Personalised technology has enabled them to make important life choices.

Originality/value

Hft believes that people with learning disabilities should be supported to live their lives in the way that they want and that creative solutions can be found to enable individuals to do this.

Citation

Nichols, E. (2011), "How personalised technology can play an important role in supporting people with learning disabilities as they age and face the onset of dementia", Journal of Assistive Technologies, Vol. 5 No. 3, pp. 158-163. https://doi.org/10.1108/17549451111173532