Cassandra Ei Lyn

Problem

​Dementia is one of the most prevalent global public health challenges. 78 million people are estimated to be affected & US $2.8 trillion dollars cost by 2030 (WHO, 2021). It is a distressing and challenging disease that causes high levels of stress and worries for both persons with dementia and caregivers, especially as they continuously decline. Promising mindfulness interventions can address these issues and provide the pair with coping mechanisms.

Mindfulness cultivates present moment awareness, and the development of a nonjudgmental lens on experiences, which may be particularly useful for helping persons with dementia and their caregivers to not dwell on the past or future, which causes worries and anxiety. It also encourages learning to respond instead of react, which facilitates thoughtful responses to experiences.

Studies show promising preliminary results for paired approaches where persons with dementia and caregivers practice mindfulness together. Conducting paired mindfulness using conversational agents like Alexa is novel, and it is able to provide high levels of accessibility and scalability, while providing more guidance.

This novel intervention was developed during the Covid-19 crisis, when social isolation was particularly challenging. As dementia condition declines, persons with dementia and carers find it increasingly complex to meet needs, causing stress, worry and a loss of perceived control which strains relationships. The pandamic, at its’ peak, made physical meetings dangerous and seniors without digital savviness found it hard to stay connected. While mindfulness practices offered benefits, they were often difficult to implement given that they were often hours long and done in person with experts. Voice-based technologies, such as conversational agents, was a more accessible alternative, yet few interventions were specifically designed to support both individuals as a connected caregiving pair.