Dementia Caregivers Who Are Long Distance Saved By Dinner Technology

In the newly evolving field of consumer health electronics, we have a new development that has potentially great benefits for long distance caregivers and especially those in the beginning stages of dementia. Two researchers, Dadong Wan and Adam Pilon, of Accenture Technology Labs in Chicago, have designed a new system called "The Virtual Family Dinner". The concept is like a sophisticated video-conferencing system that alerts a distant person that a family member is about to prepare a meal. The distant caregiver can tune into the scene via speakers, microphone and a small camera, allowing each person to see the other virtually and spend the mealtime together.

Sounds crazy to you? A little Big-Brotherish? Well, to those who care for family members with early stage dementia, this technology could assist with minimal monitoring and possibly delay placement outside the home. Proper nutrition is an area of concern for those with dementia. This technology could also assist with a greater food intake as studies have indicated that eating with someone may help the person consume at least 100 extra calories each meal. The extra benefit for the long distance caregiver is the ability to check out the person during this brief encounter and see how they look physically and how their surroundings look as well.

Like other newly conceived technologies, the Virtual Family Dinner will not be available for at least two years and could cost up to $1000 per home. Some technical know-how will be needed which may be a concern for some seniors.

Accenture has added the Virtual Family Dinner to their other "online health services" such as the "Lifeshirt", which can monitor some physiological signs when worn and the "Home Medicine Cabinet", a devise that helps people remember to take their medications.

Do you think technology has gone too far with the loss of privacy that may occur or is this right on track?