French product newly being sold in the UK by NRS (assistive technology supplier) described as “The brain-child of a French surgeon whose mother had dementia, the MEM-X is now used as a second memory tool, or as part of a fall prevention package, instead of sticky notes or diary aids. A simple programming system, via a covered keypad, allows carers or family members to record up to 90 personal messages, each lasting for 10 seconds. The reassuring reminders are then played at the exact time and date stipulated, simply by an alert tone prompting users to press an oversized blue button to hear the message.” More information in press release (PDF).
6 thoughts on “MEM-X Memory Aid Pendant (UK)”
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Mem-X device use
We have been using the Mem-X for a few months with some success and, inevitably, some failures.
It is working really well as a medication prompt for a young man with learning difficulties. The burdon of prompting was previously undertaken by his mum who is now particularly pleased that he manages his own medication. However, it was withdrawn from a service user with dementia who couldn’t respond to the alert tone which would have prompted her to lock the front door at 9 o’clock each night.
One issue I do have with the device is that a Daily reminder message has to be recorded 7 times, once for each day of the week. Anyone else found this?
Effectiveness
Has anyone conducted a study to find out how effective this product is amongst a variety of user groups?
If not, would anyone be interested in a collaborative research project to assess this?
MEM-X comparison
A comparison of three reminder devices – including MEM-X – was published last year in the Journal of Assistive Technology. It compared the devices for three user groups – people with dementia, adults with learning disabilities, and people with acquired brain injuries. Linda is welcome to contact me (dr.k.doughty@btinternet.com) for further details of the trial.
The Mem-X has also been used by a number of local authority and health trust members of CUHTec for over a year. It is a device which finds a place within my growing toolbox of standalone telecare devices.
MEM-X Memory Device
Hi,
I am the sole UK agent for MEM-X and I am very interested to hear feedback such as the above for our product. We continue to develop the device and it is hoped that during this year new features will be added to make it even more user friendly. If anyone is interested please feel free to contact me via this site.
Bought for my 88-year-old mother who has vascular dementia and proved to be only a partial and temporary success. I would suggest it is best suited for those experiencing the earliest stages of the condition and those who are not intimidated by technology … even technology reduced to its simplest form as found in mem-x. My mother’s memory span is now so short that having responded to the machine’s alert signal and listened to the message, she immediately will forget what she has heard. On occasion she would even hold a conversation with ‘me’ via mem-x which her carers found comical and sad all at the same time! Additionally the ‘memory tree’ of all the machines functions as explained in the user manual is quite complex and in the early model I have described only in words so is not especially intuitive, a graphic description of the functions would be better. Mother’s carers were totally flummoxed so could not update messages themselves or delete unwanted ones. Once out of date and in need of updating mem-x became a source of confusion rather than help.
None of this should detract from the potential benefits of mem-x, it is a thoughtful and intelligent solution to a knotty problem … but it is not a panacea for all ills or all people.
Michael’s experience is typical of the feedback that I have been having from a variety of users – but he should be congratulated for being prepared to try out innovative technical solutions of this type. Assistive technologies and telecare do not provide cures but they can make life easier and better for thousands of people with cognitive impairments – and also for their family carers. In addition to the Mem-X, my dementia toolbox now includes the MemRabel and the i-Talk reminder bedside clock. These are further examples of programmable devices that can help to compensate for loss of short-term memory.