Using GPS Technologies with People with Dementia

Abstract In Norway and other Nordic countries, there is a policy emphasis on using welfare technologies to support people to live at home. For example, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) or ‘location technologies’ are used to support people with dementia and their next of kin with wayfindi...

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Main Authors: Ruth Bartlett, Tula Brannelly, Päivi Topo
Format: Article
Language:Norwegian
Published: Scandinavian University Press 2019-01-01
Series:Tidsskrift for Omsorgsforskning
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.idunn.no/tidsskrift_for_omsorgsforskning/2019/03/using_gps_technologies_with_people_with_dementia
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author Ruth Bartlett
Tula Brannelly
Päivi Topo
author_facet Ruth Bartlett
Tula Brannelly
Päivi Topo
author_sort Ruth Bartlett
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In Norway and other Nordic countries, there is a policy emphasis on using welfare technologies to support people to live at home. For example, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) or ‘location technologies’ are used to support people with dementia and their next of kin with wayfinding. However, the research evidence has not been synthesised, and so the opportunities and challenges presented when using GPS technologies are not clear. This synthesising review examined all available empirical evidence on the use of GPS technologies by people with dementia and their family carers, through a critical disability lens – that is, in terms of protecting a person’s right to live in the community and taking the standpoint of the person with dementia (rather than that of a caregiver or health professional). Employing this lens meant that we engaged with the literature in a more critical way than in standard reviews, and consciously looked for evidence of marginalisation. A search of six major English language databases in 2016 identified 23 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Synthesis of the findings led to the identification of three overarching themes: using GPS to stay safe, taking control and the value of GPS data. The review revealed a growing interest in the use of GPS technologies by people with dementia, which indicates that policy implementation is effective. Future work should take a disability-rights approach and focus on the value of using GPS technologies from the perspective of the person with dementia, as the opinions of this group are often overlooked in discussions about welfare technologies.
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spelling doaj-art-2a9d7debbbeb440c92f840fe0f3a073f2025-08-20T03:09:50ZnorScandinavian University PressTidsskrift for Omsorgsforskning2387-59762387-59842019-01-015849810.18261/issn.2387-5984-2019-03-0818948693Using GPS Technologies with People with DementiaRuth BartlettTula BrannellyPäivi TopoAbstract In Norway and other Nordic countries, there is a policy emphasis on using welfare technologies to support people to live at home. For example, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) or ‘location technologies’ are used to support people with dementia and their next of kin with wayfinding. However, the research evidence has not been synthesised, and so the opportunities and challenges presented when using GPS technologies are not clear. This synthesising review examined all available empirical evidence on the use of GPS technologies by people with dementia and their family carers, through a critical disability lens – that is, in terms of protecting a person’s right to live in the community and taking the standpoint of the person with dementia (rather than that of a caregiver or health professional). Employing this lens meant that we engaged with the literature in a more critical way than in standard reviews, and consciously looked for evidence of marginalisation. A search of six major English language databases in 2016 identified 23 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Synthesis of the findings led to the identification of three overarching themes: using GPS to stay safe, taking control and the value of GPS data. The review revealed a growing interest in the use of GPS technologies by people with dementia, which indicates that policy implementation is effective. Future work should take a disability-rights approach and focus on the value of using GPS technologies from the perspective of the person with dementia, as the opinions of this group are often overlooked in discussions about welfare technologies.https://www.idunn.no/tidsskrift_for_omsorgsforskning/2019/03/using_gps_technologies_with_people_with_dementiaDementianavigationGPS technologiestelecaresystematic reviewGPStechnologies
spellingShingle Ruth Bartlett
Tula Brannelly
Päivi Topo
Using GPS Technologies with People with Dementia
Tidsskrift for Omsorgsforskning
Dementia
navigation
GPS technologies
telecare
systematic review
GPStechnologies
title Using GPS Technologies with People with Dementia
title_full Using GPS Technologies with People with Dementia
title_fullStr Using GPS Technologies with People with Dementia
title_full_unstemmed Using GPS Technologies with People with Dementia
title_short Using GPS Technologies with People with Dementia
title_sort using gps technologies with people with dementia
topic Dementia
navigation
GPS technologies
telecare
systematic review
GPStechnologies
url https://www.idunn.no/tidsskrift_for_omsorgsforskning/2019/03/using_gps_technologies_with_people_with_dementia
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