BEHAVIORAL SYMPTOMS AND FALLS IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES: PERCEPTIONS OF GERONTECHNOLOGY

Two of the most frequent problems in long-term care facilities (LTC) are behavioral symptoms and falls of older people living with Alzheimer’s disease or associated disorders. Intelligent videomonitoring and mobile application are potential gerontechnologies to help manage these problems. However, evidence about the needs for technologies in LTC is scarce. The goal of this study was to explore the perceptions and needs of managers, formal and family caregivers in LTC regarding these technologies, as well as the conditions and ethical challenges that could influence their use. Individual interviews and a content analysis were conducted. Results show the relevance of these technologies in LTC and the characteristics that make them useful. Based on these results, technologies could be developed to improve the quality of clinical practice in LTC.