Alzheimer's and AR Tech

by Mx. Blu3

Augmented Reality (AR) could help people with Alzheimer's disease or early dementia find their way home, as well as with running errands like shopping or buying groceries.

Just as smart devices already monitor people's health (like the Oura Ringg) and devices like Apple and Samsung tags already help us locate our keys or our cars, Alzheimer's patients could utilize the same form of technology to help with living their lives with dignity and independence.  This would also potentially be a much more cost-effective option to hospice or live-in care, which is expensive, and the costs for such care have been increasing.

Not all older phones support augmented reality, but the technology, which includes both software and wearable smart devices, is already here now, albeit a bit pricey.  Both the iPhone and Android platforms include augmented reality apps that enable outdoor and indoor navigation using AR technology for directions.

The most important thing would be making sure that people with Alzheimer's have these devices on them at all times, and that they're aware that they have the ability to use them and not be ashamed to.

One way might be preparing people who may be experiencing onset symptoms to habitually start using such software paired with a smartwatch and smart glasses combination so that it becomes second nature to finding their way home when it comes to getting lost.  You could also set the home address ahead of time, so that simply saying "take me home," "home," or "need to go home" enables the feature.

However, it works the other way around too; AR could also allow bystanders to assist people with Alzheimer's who are lost in getting home.  Plus, smart devices will only go down in cost making them more accessible to the older community, making this an available cost-affordable option for those on a fixed income with retirement, but policy makers could have insurance cover this for health purposes in the future.

This is important because physical activity and exercise are also important when it comes to the early to middle stages of dementia and this would not only give people with Alzheimer's the ability but also the independence they need to perform such activities themselves.

Hospice care for people with dementia has become very expensive and not everyone will be able to afford such care, or to be able to be placed in an Alzheimer's village, something that other countries such as the Netherlands are starting to implement.

Technology is meant to make people's lives easier.

Augmented Reality paired with smart technology may present a possible cost-effective option.