Assistive technologies for demented elderly: a systematic review

Objective: Analyze intervention studies using assistive technologies to help demented elderly with the execution of Basic and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. Methods: A survey was undertaken in the databases CINAHL, MEDLINE/PubMed, LILACS, SCOPUS, Scielo, Cochrane and Web of Science. The descriptors used were dementia/demencia, aged/idoso, self-help devices/equipamentos de autoajuda. The methodological quality of the selected articles was analyzed by means of the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) assessment tool. Results: Four clinical trials were reviewed. The classification of the studies' methodological quality ranged from low to moderate. The effects of the nighttime monitoring system and voice command technologies on the Basic and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living were assessed better. Conclusion: The application of these technological devices offers positive results to support elderly people and caregivers in performing their daily activities. The use of simple voice prompts is cheaper, easier to manage and more efficient for demented elderly to perform Instrumental Activities of Daily Living.