How Tech Is Helping Canadians Living with Dementia
By Alley Wilson & Farah Nasser
Global News
Published May 6, 2023
Tech within care communities
Meanwhile, in Hamilton, Ont. there’s an innovative retirement home built with technology and design as the focus.
Nafia Al-Mutawaly has a background in engineering, however, the former university professor’s path changed after his mother was diagnosed with dementia.
“Prior to this journey. I had no idea even what dementia means. And this is the truth,” Al-Mutawaly said. Through his journey, he hopes that with the help of others, he will be able to make a difference.
So he founded Ressam Gardens, a care home in his late mother’s honour.
Nafia Al-Mutawaly, president and founder of Ressam Gardens in Hamilton, Ont.
“I hope that she would be proud,” he said. “If I can make one difference for a family then mission accomplished.”
While building the facility, Al-Mutawaly researched what would make life easier for the residents, such as lots of space to be together to socialize, and wander freely and safely. It is described as a retirement memory care community.
Ressam Gardens is also testing specialized lighting to help residents feel awake and active throughout the day, which will help with quality sleep at night. Residents will be able to change the temperature and intensity of the biodynamic lighting system as well. And if a resident wakes up in the middle of the night to get a drink of water, for example, Al-Mutawaly says a motion sensor in the baseboard of the room will activate lights.
“With this kind of low-intensity indirect lighting, we will be able to ensure the resident will not be disturbed when it comes to their sleep, and also to maintain the quality of their night,” he said.
Nafia showing how biodynamic lighting works in the resident’s room.
Baseboard motion sensor lighting.
Ressam Gardens staff member, Jonathan, demoing one of the movement games for its residents.
Another look at a memory game at Ressam Gardens.
Ressam Gardens staff member, Jonathan, demoing one of the movement games for its residents.
Satellite on top of Ressam Gardens, which will provide free wifi to the park across the street where residents will be allowed to roam and wander.
Ressam Gardens also has specialized games to help with memory and movement, and the facility is working with the city of Hamilton to establish a Wi-Fi network in the 49-acre park across the street. This will allow residents to roam and be monitored safely.
Al-Mutawaly’s goal is to advance care for other families by determining what works and what doesn’t, and to provide the necessary information when it comes to dementia. Which is why he dedicated an office on-site for the Alzheimer Society.
“We don’t have the cause and we don’t have a cure. So what we are trying to do is to step into the unknown, and that is research,” Al-Mutawaly said.
“Hopefully, from these experiences, we will be able to put together the proper care that our residents need, and Canadians need.”
[Excerpt from full article: https://globalnews.ca/news/9670283/dementia-canada-tech-home/]