Mobile apps for dementia awareness, support, and prevention – review and evaluation

Abstract

Purpose

This review aimed to document the characteristics and appraise the quality of dementia applications (apps) to support persons living with dementia and their caregivers.

Materials and methods

Systematic searches of the Australian-based Google Play Store, Apple App Store, and relevant websites sought apps with dementia or Alzheimer’s information, support for caregivers and persons living with dementia, or prevention content. Apps were screened and subsequently appraised via the mobile application review system (MARS).

Results

The majority of the final 75 dementia apps were free to download, but were only available on a single platform. Persons involved in caregiving were the primary audience. App content focused on dementia information, practical caregiving, and communication tips. Language options in addition to English were limited and few apps offered ongoing support. MARS appraisal identified few apps with good “Overall Quality” scores. Apps that were more comprehensive trended towards higher MARS scores.

Conclusions

A composite lack of standardised quality indicators and commercial drivers of the marketplace present significant barriers for consumers seeking meaningful dementia information and support. Persons living with dementia and their caregivers would significantly benefit from social and organisational services that assist with navigating the app marketplace.

Implications for rehabilitation

• There is significant opportunity for quality digital innovations, including apps, to support home-based, independent dementia care.

• A composite lack of standardised quality indicators and commercial drivers of the app marketplace present significant barriers for persons living with dementia and their caregivers who seek apps with dementia information and support.

• Social and organisational services can support the dementia community through assistance with navigating the app marketplace for quality dementia information and support.

Keywords:

• Dementia
• apps
• mobile apps
• persons living with dementia
• caregiver
• Alzheimer’s

Acknowledgements

The authors have endeavoured to use respectful language throughout this review by referring to the Dementia Australia Language Guidelines, available at http://www.dementia.org.au/.

Ethical statement

This research has been reviewed by the Office of Research Ethics and is deemed to be exempt from ethics review under the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research and University of Queensland policy. The research uses only existing collections of data that contain only non-identifiable data about human beings AND is of negligible risk, and is exempt from review; OR is audit or quality assurance activity Human Ethics Research Office, The University of Queensland, Australia. Clearance number: 2020002320.

Author contributions

Conception and design: Georgina Chelberg, Liam Caffery. Acquisition of data, analysis, and interpretation of data: Georgina Chelberg, Maike Neuhaus, Adam Mothershaw. Manuscript preparation and first draft: Georgina Chelberg. Critical review and editing of the manuscript: Maike Neuhaus, Adam Mothershaw, Liam Caffery, Ray Mahoney. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This review is being conducted as part of “Georgina Chelberg’s” PhD, and the authors acknowledge the funding and support provided by The University of Queensland (PhD Scholarship – stipend) and the Australian E-Health Research Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (Research Plus Top Up Scholarship).