Technology in Care for People with Dementia

Overview

The impact of dementia on individuals, caregivers, and healthcare systems is profound. Technology offers promising solutions to enhance care, improve quality of life, and support person-centered interventions.

In this course, you will explore how emerging and established technologies—such as sensors, telehealth, monitoring systems, and assistive devices—can be applied in dementia care. Through evidence-informed discussion, practical examples, and implementation considerations, this course equips physiotherapists and other care professionals with the knowledge and strategies to integrate technology meaningfully into practice.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Describe key technologies currently used or emerging in dementia care, and how they support person-centered interventions.
   
   
2. Evaluate common barriers (e.g., financial, ethical, usability) to implementing technology in care settings, and propose realistic strategies to address them.
   
   
3. Design an outline for integrating appropriate technology into a dementia-care plan, including considerations of cost, training, and patient/caregiver engagement.

Audience

This online course is designed for:

• Physiotherapists and rehabilitation professionals working with people living with dementia
• Clinicians and care providers interested in innovation and technology-enabled care
• Students, researchers, or managers involved in designing or evaluating dementia-care interventions

Presenter Bios 

Dr. Lillian Hung, RN, PhD

Dr. Hung is an associate professor specializing in rehabilitation and caregiving research. Her work focuses on integrating technology into dementia care, caregiver support, and community-based rehabilitation. She has published extensively on interventions using telehealth and sensor-based monitoring, and leads research projects aimed at improving independence for people living with dementia.

Yong Zhao, MD, MHLP

Yong Zhao is currently a graduate student in the MHLP-SC program. Prior to this, he worked as a physician specializing in infectious diseases in Beijing, China, where he gained extensive clinical experience and contributed to both clinical and laboratory research. As the global population continues to age, he has developed a strong interest in improving the health and well-being of older adults.

Through his clinical work, he recognized the importance of shifting from a purely biomedical approach to a more holistic, person-centered model of care. He brings strong critical-thinking skills, a commitment to continuous learning, and a keen interest in innovations that support healthy aging. In particular, he is passionate about exploring how artificial intelligence and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can enhance care for older populations.

He looks forward to growing with the IDEA Lab team—sharing ideas, learning from others, and contributing meaningfully to the team’s collective work.