Co-Creation Workshops at Fundacio ACE: Digital Tools for Dementia Care in COMFORTage
The ACE Alzheimer Center Barcelona recently hosted two co-creation workshops for the COMFORTage project, aimed at designing digital tools for dementia prevention and management. These workshops gathered insights from health care professionals, patients, and non-professional caregivers to ensure that the technological innovations being developed in the context of the project align with user needs.
Held on July 2 and July 4 2024, the workshops were designed to engage two distinct groups. Professionals discussed usability and clinical applications, while patients and families shared personal perspectives in a supportive environment. This approach fostered open communication and valuable feedback.
Participants explored three innovative platforms focused on improving cognitive health and supporting individuals at risk of dementia:
- Healthentia, which integrates habit monitoring and teleconsultations. By tracking daily activities and providing personalized advice, it enhances self-management of health behaviors.
- Eligence functions as a “brain gym” with over 30 games tailored to cognitive abilities, including memory and attention. Designed by neuropsychology experts, it allows professionals to create personalized sessions and monitor patient progress.
- Linguistic Games targets early dementia detection through language-based exercises validated against neuropsychological tests like MOCA and BNT. Its engaging format encourages participation while improving auditory and visual processing skills.
Feedback Insights
Professionals emphasized the importance of user-friendly interfaces and adaptive features that align with patients’ cognitive levels. They also highlighted the potential of digital tools to complement in-person interventions.
Patients and caregivers expressed mixed feelings about digital tools. While some were hesitant due to unfamiliarity with technology, others, particularly tech-savvy users, were open to integrating these tools into their routines. Both groups agreed on the value of combining digital platforms with professional guidance in group settings.
Conclusion
These workshops provided essential insights for optimizing digital dementia care tools. Achieving balance between technological innovation and accessibility is essential, particularly for older adults. The feedback highlighted the potential of platforms like Healthentia, Eligence, and Linguistic Games to transform dementia care by enhancing engagement, supporting early diagnosis, and promoting healthy aging.
**Article written by The ACE Alzheimer Center Barcelona, a key partner in the COMFORTage project.
