July 25, 2016
“My advice to entrepreneurs and venture capitalists: Think high touch before high tech” (Dr. Ken Covinsky, Geriatrician).
In today’s age, we consistently endorse the wonders of new technology— what is the latest application, virtual reality, or gadget that accomplishes something new and exciting? There is no doubt that up-and-coming inventions can be powerful in dementia care, but it’s important to look at tech with a critical eye and ask yourself, “What is the value of continuing to do things manually in a tech-driven society? What are the limitations of technology? What can I do that a computer can’t?”
Business owners cannot ignore the value of intersecting technology with their business goals, especially in today’s competitive marketplace. Telehealth, a way to remotely monitor health care, has been integrated into Medicare; people are inventing gait-training robots, emergency response devices to predict falls, and high-tech phone/tablet systems to connect seniors with their loved ones. “Entrepreneurs are hard at work developing platforms, apps, sites and devices meant to help older adults manage their health, live independently, and maintain family and social connections, all laudable goals,” Paula Span with the New York Times says. While their efforts are backed by good intentions, individuals and companies caring for dementia patients should proceed with caution.
This technology, while extremely innovative, is all relatively new, which means that kinks are being worked out and priorities continue to shift. Laurie Orlov, a business analyst who began the Aging in Place Technology Watch blog in 2008, asserts, “Design will play a crucial role in how useful consumers find any of these products, but it presents tricky questions.” For example, how can designers create a single app that is consistently helpful for all people involved, including children providing care for their parents, concerned family members, neighbors, and the person living with dementia.
When it comes to providing high quality dementia care, there are core aspects of human interaction -things like compassion and empathy- that technology will never be able to replace. The best care exists when a strong relationship has been built between caregiver and care-receiver. The ultimate goal is to augment existing care efforts with supportive technology. Designing your business model to intertwine and work in conjunction with technology can allow for opportunities of advancement, efficiency, and levels of production that just weren’t attainable before the digital revolution.
