SUCCESS takes into account verbal and non-verbal communication. To provide an interesting and innovative way of teaching and guidance, SUCCESS will support the user through conversations with an avatar allowing enjoyable trainings and role plays between the user and the fictional character. The avatars demonstrate typical behaviours of people with dementia and also provide companionship to the carers. Realistic scenarios allow for practical orientation to better integrate the learnings into the everyday care routine. Gamification elements motivate users to increase their knowledge about interaction strategies and everyday activities with people with dementia. In addition to communication support, SUCCESS also aims at creating meaningful activities for people with dementia in order to maintain a sense of purpose at their individual level of ability. Emotional support is provided as to help carers to keep balance between care responsibilities and personal needs.
Objectives
Due to growing life expectancy and unhealthy lifestyles, dementia is a fast growing chronic disease that affects the behaviour and communication abilities of people living with this neurological disorder. Caregivers are often challenged by this fact, which could lead to stress, helplessness, aggressive situations and caregiver burnout.
The SUCCESS project provides an innovative mobile training application to support formal and informal caregivers to appropriately interact with people with dementia. The application provides evidence-based communication and intervention strategies and guides the user to effectively respond to specific situations in dementia care.
Expected Results and Impact
SUCCESS delivers a fully integrated mobile pilot application that will be evaluated in long-term field studies in Austria and Romania. The results of this study will form the basis for the finalization of the SUCCESS business model and the subsequent market introduction of the SUCCESS solution within 2-3 years after project end. The go-to-market strategy is twofold: Following a B2C approach SUCCESS will directly address informal caregivers of people with dementia. In addition, providers of social services will be approached in order to provide SUCCESS for their employees (B2B2C). The SUCCESS solution will relieve caregiver stress and their self-stigma but will also increase the well-being and communication of people living with dementia by improving the relationships with their caregivers.
Contacts
Markus Garschall
E.: markus.garschall@ait.ac.at
T.: +43 50550-4534
