Feasibility of machine-based prompting to assist persons with dementia.

The study investigates the feasibility of machine-based prompting to assist individuals with dementia, particularly focusing on community-dwelling seniors with moderate cognitive impairment. With dementia prevalence rising among older adults, the research highlights the potential of smart devices to enhance independence in daily tasks. Eleven participants were prompted through three self-care tasks—drinking water, brushing teeth, and upper body dressing—demonstrating an average task completion rate of 86% with appropriate machine-delivered messages. The findings suggest that such prompting devices could not only support caregivers but also promote greater independence for individuals with cognitive impairments.