Videophone support for family caregivers of dementia patients (US)

Donna Cusano

A University of Miami Center on Aging initiative is piloting what they call ‘A Computer Integrated Telephone System for Family Caregivers of Dementia Patients’ and targeting their local African-American, Haitian-American and Hispanic communities. It will be assessed on the effectiveness of providing personal, real-time support for caregivers in their own homes to help them with better care of their loved ones, and reduce the higher rates of caregiver ill health, self-neglect, isolation and depression. Cisco’s Unified IP Phone 7985G was selected for ease of programmability and large display area; a phone rather than computer or tablet was used as the lower socio-economic group would be more familiar with phones. Phones provide information in English, Creole and Spanish, and clinicians can see caregivers directly in their homes. Video System Connects Dementia Patients & Caregivers (Health Management Technology)