Touch-screen computers and the potential to enable enjoyable activities with people with dementia

Darnall Dementia Group> has been actively participating in an on-going study undertaken by a PhD student from the University of Sheffield. The aim of the study is two-fold.  Firstly, to increase current understanding of the ways interest may be stimulated and interaction encouraged by using an assortment of enjoyable activities uploaded onto touch screen computers. Secondly, to challenge the assumptions that people with dementia may not benefit from such contemporary technologies.

The study was carried out over four weeks and all the group members, volunteers and staff at Darnall got involved with interest and enthusiasm. This group is already characteristic of strong friendships and feelings of wellbeing yet participation during this project heightened interaction, communication and laughter. Introducing the group to the technology was deemed successful and it was felt that everyone involved enjoyed and benefited from their participation. The researcher considered the groups involvement to exceed her expectations and found her own involvement to be ‘a complete joy from beginning to end’.