Research on Technology & Dementia Managment
Investigator:
Rosalie Wang, PhD, OT Reg. (Ont.)
Associate Professor
University of Toronto
Contact information: rosalie.wang@utoronto.ca
Funding sponsor: The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
What is this Study about?
Assistive technology products are things that help you function or carry out activities more easily by yourself. Products could be any devices, equipment, instruments, or software. Examples could be mobile phone apps that provide calendar reminders, switches that turn off stoves, or walkers.
Assistive technology services are activities or resources that help you to use or maintain assistive technology products. Services refer to assessment, training, and maintenance that help with choosing, using, and repairing assistive technology products.
Getting these products and services means having to contact different organizations. If these products and services could be bundled as one unit, it may help persons with dementia get them more easily and potentially reduce costs. Right now, policymakers need more information about providing assistive technologies as bundles.
The purpose of the study is to learn about your experiences with accessing and using products and services for managing dementia. This information will help us to know what should be included in bundles.
For persons with dementia: We would like to interview you now to understand your past and current experiences. We would also like to interview you each year for up to three years (for three interviews) to see how your experiences change over time. You may leave at any time.
For care partners: The purpose of the surveys is to learn about your views and experiences with accessing and using products and services for managing dementia. This information will help us to know what should be included in bundles. If interested, you may also take part in longitudinal interviews (two interviews, one annually) after the initial survey in year one to see how your experiences changed over time. You may leave at any time.
For healthcare providers: The purpose of the surveys is to learn about your views and experiences with assisting persons with dementia and care partners to access and use products and services for managing dementia. This information will help us to know what should be included in bundles and how delivery may be improved. If interested, you may also take part 6 / 10 in longitudinal interviews (two interviews, one annually) after completing the initial survey in year one to see how your experiences changed over time. You may leave at any time.
What Will Happen in This Study?
People with dementia will complete a 15-minute Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) prior to participation to confirm eligibility. Eligible individuals will take part in an initial 90-minute interview. Those who choose to participate longitudinally will complete two additional 30-minute interviews over the following two years, with a MoCA administered before each session. This results in three interviews over three years (one annually).
Care partners and healthcare providers will complete a 45-minute survey in year one. Participants who opt into the longitudinal component will also complete two 30-minute follow-up interviews in years two and three, resulting in one survey and two interviews.
Who is Eligible to Participate in this Study?
People with dementia:
●Are a Canadian resident who can speak English or French
● Live at home (not care home)
●Able to respond to questions about yourself and your assistive technology product and service use
●Have a score 25 or below on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (will be conducted by research team prior to interview)
●Able to provide consent (or assent, with a substitute decision maker providing consent) Care partners:
●Are a Canadian resident who can speak English or French
●Family or friend who provides 5 hours or more of support a week for someone with dementia living at home (not a care home)
●Able to respond to questions about yourself and your assistive technology product and service use - Able to provide consent Healthcare providers:
●Are a Canadian resident who can speak English or French
●A healthcare provider (such as physician, nurse, therapist, social worker) who works with 8 / 10 persons with dementia
Recruitment End Date: November 24, 2026