iPads improve memory, social interaction skills in dementia residents
In what is being described as a “happy accident,” one Florida nursing home found that use of Apple's iPad 2 tablet PC is able to rejuvenate the memory, motor and social skills of the facility's dementia residents.In the year since Health Central Park, located in Winter Garden, FL, acquired iPad, staff members have seen its memory care residents become more engaged in activities and interact more with other residents and visitors, The Orlando Sentinel reported.
Staff members note that while other technologies have improved resident monitoring and safety, few tools have been as successful in getting residents to interact with technology. The tablet's design is also well suited for older users who may not have the dexterity to use a mouse and keyboard required for other computing platforms, according to the article.
“These devices have an increased potential to aid people preserve their memory,” technology researcher Tony Marsh, Ph.D., told The Sentinel. “They can monitor progress and, in a way, back you up.”
