WHAT'S HAPPENING
SURVEY RESULTS: IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON FAMILY VISITS TO SENIORS WITH DEMENTIA
TOUGH CALL: Seniors with dementia face significant challenges when using their phone and most individuals with memory loss have difficulty making a call, despite having to rely on phones to stay connected to help reduce the social isolation.
RAZ Mobility, a provider of mobile assistive technology and the creators of the RAZ Memory Cell Phone, recently announced the results of its latest industry survey regarding the impact of COVID-19 on family visits to seniors with dementia, and the use of phones to bridge the communication gap. Now more than ever, families are forced to rely on phones to stay connected to help reduce the social isolation experienced by seniors with dementia.
However, they face significant challenges when using their phone. For example, most individuals with memory loss have difficulty making a call and many accept calls from spammers.
The online survey was presented to more than 250 caregivers, healthcare workers and individuals with family members suffering from dementia in the first week of October. It was designed to gain a better understanding about the needs of these individuals when it comes to staying in contact with family members and caregivers.
COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN : RAZ MOBILITY SURVEY
- According to survey results, 48.5% of respondents see their senior with dementia significantly less because of COVID-related visitation restrictions or out-of-fear of infecting their loved one.
- The significant majority of respondents said their family members with dementia or Alzheimer's use a mobile phone or a landline phone.
- Of the 41% of respondents that say their family member with dementia or Alzheimer's use phones, 49% said they frequently have difficulties using the phone and 8% have difficulties some of the time.
- The top two challenges reported by those respondents include 51% having difficulty dialing phone numbers, and 49% getting confused and dialing phone numbers late at night.
"While there is a large number of individuals with dementia and Alzheimer's using a phone as their main form of communication, there are still many challenges they experience when trying to navigate the technology," said Robert Felgar, CEO of RAZ Mobility. "The RAZ Memory Cell Phone specifically addresses the needs and challenges faced by seniors with dementia when using their mobile device." RAZ Mobility offers mobile assistive technology solutions for people with disabilities. These solutions take the form of mobile devices or mobile applications.