Amazon’s Alexa, a voice-controlled virtual assistant, is a powerful tool that can significantly enhance the lives of people living with cognitive changes or dementia to help maintain their independence and provide psychological safety to their relatives.
Here’s a list of how Good Company members have used Alexa.
1. Medication Reminders
“Alexa, set an alarm every day to remind me to take my medication at 8am”
Taking medications on time is crucial for managing health conditions. Alexa can be programmed to remind users to take their medications at specific times of the day and setting up a recurring reminder, ensuring medications are taken consistently.
2. Daily Routine Management
“Alexa, set alarm every day to remind me to eat lunch at 1pm”
“Alexa, what time is Games Club today?"
“Alexa, remind me to go to Tai Chi at 11am."
Alexa can help by setting reminders for daily activities such as eating, exercising, or attending appointments. These reminders can provide structure and reduce anxiety associated with forgetting tasks.
3. Safety and Security
“Alexa, turn off lights every night at 10pm”
Alexa can be integrated with various smart home devices to enhance safety. For example, smart plugs can be used to control appliances, ensuring they are turned off when not in use. Voice commands can be used to lock doors, turn on lights, or check security cameras, helping to create a safer living environment.
4. Social Interaction
“Alexa, call Alice, daughter”
Social isolation is a contributing factor to cognitive decline. Alexa can help facilitate communication by making hands-free calls to family and friends to stay connected, fostering a sense of community and support.
5. Entertainment and Engagement
“Alexa, play my favourite songs”
Staying mentally active is important for brain health. Alexa can play music, read audiobooks, or tell jokes;
“I’ve recently learnt the history of chess boards, its seems they have quite a chequered past”.
You can also ask Alexa to “play m4d radio” which is a station which plays music from the 40’s, 50’s 60’s and 70’s to help reduce the sometimes distressing symptoms of dementia, such as agitation and anxiety.
6. Memory Aids
“Alexa, what day is it?”
“Alexa, what’s the time?”
Alexa, what's the weather like in Crowborough today?
Alexa can act as a memory aid by answering questions about daily events to help people stay orientated and aware of their environment.
7. Information and Education
Alexa, how long does it take to boil a soft boiled egg?
Alexa, how do you make pancakes?
Alexa, how do you say hello in Romanian?
Alexa provides instant access to information. Users can ask questions about various topics, from cooking recipes to health advice, making it easier to stay informed and learn new things.
8. Carer Support
For carers, Alexa can be a valuable tool to monitor and assist their relative remotely. They can set reminders, check in through calls, and use drop-in features to provide support even when they are not physically present.
One of the great things about Alexa is that she has never ending patience. She doesn't mind being asked the same question over and over again which can sometimes be quite waring for us humans.
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