P4-399: THE USE OF VISUAL MAPS AS HABIT BASED ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RELATED DEMENTIAS, AND THEIR CAREGIVERS

A web-based care assistant for caregivers of the elderly: Development and pilot study

Background

The aging population in Korea has driven a surge in demand for elderly care services, leading to significant growth in elderly welfare facilities, particularly Adult Daycare Centers (ADCs). However, despite advancements in care facilities, caregivers continue to face challenges in providing suitable elderly care due to difficulties arising from gaps in the latest information on the elderly and their coping abilities.

Objective

The objective of this study is to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of the elderly care assistant system, which facilitates the sharing of information and knowledge necessary for elderly care among caregivers.

Methods

The ECA system was designed to support knowledge sharing through a knowledge management system based on an ontological knowledge model, with a web-based user interface for improved accessibility. A field trial was conducted at ADC in Seoul from August 17 to September 21, with eight caregivers participating. A mixed-methods approach, involving both surveys and interviews, was employed to gauge the ECA system's effectiveness.

Results

The study found that the use of the ECA was beneficial in promoting knowledge sharing among caregivers. Additionally, caregivers noted the potential benefits of using the ECA in conjunction with family caregivers, who can offer additional information and perspectives on elderly care.

Conclusions

This study presents preliminary evidence of the potential benefits of a care knowledge sharing system among various caregivers in elderly care. Although the elderly care assistant effectively promotes knowledge sharing, more research is needed to fully understand its impact on elderly care outcomes.

A Care Knowledge Management System Based on an Ontological Model of Caring for People With Dementia: Knowledge Representation and Development Study

BACKGROUND

Caregivers of people with dementia find it extremely difficult to choose the best care method because of complex environments and the variable symptoms of dementia. To alleviate this care burden, interventions have been proposed that use computer- or web-based applications. For example, an automatic diagnosis of the condition can improve the well-being of both the person with dementia and the caregiver. Other interventions support the individual with dementia in living independently.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to develop an ontology-based care knowledge management system for people with dementia that will provide caregivers with a care guide suited to the environment and to the individual patient's symptoms. This should also enable knowledge sharing among caregivers.

METHODS

To build the care knowledge model, we reviewed existing ontologies that contain concepts and knowledge descriptions relating to the care of those with dementia, and we considered dementia care manuals. The basic concepts of the care ontology were confirmed by experts in Korea. To infer the different care methods required for the individual dementia patient, the reasoning rules as defined in Semantic Web Rule Languages and Prolog were utilized. The accuracy of the care knowledge in the ontological model and the usability of the proposed system were evaluated by using the Pellet reasoner and OntOlogy Pitfall Scanner!, and a survey and interviews were conducted with caregivers working in care centers in Korea.

RESULTS

The care knowledge model contains six top-level concepts: care knowledge, task, assessment, person, environment, and medical knowledge. Based on this ontological model of dementia care, caregivers at a dementia care facility in Korea were able to access the care knowledge easily through a graphical user interface. The evaluation by the care experts showed that the system contained accurate care knowledge and a level of assessment comparable to normal assessment tools.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we developed a care knowledge system that can provide caregivers with care guides suited to individuals with dementia. We anticipate that the system could reduce the workload of caregivers.