Assistive technologies can improve life with dementia – but also give rise to ethical issues
New study provides an overview of ethical issues related to assistive technologies for people with dementia
Fall alarms, motion sensors, social robots, and tracking technologies like GPS.
Assistive technologies have the potential to improve quality of life for people with dementia and their caregivers. They can increase safety, strengthen independence, and make it easier to maintain social relationships.
However, the use of these technologies also raises a range of ethical questions. Researchers at the National Institute of Public Health have now reviewed existing knowledge in the field to provide a comprehensive overview of the key ethical issues that arise when welfare technologies are used in dementia care.
The study has just been published in the academic journal Dementia.
“As we face a shortage of care staff and increasingly rely on technology to relieve and support caregiving, it is crucial that we understand the human and ethical consequences. Technology is not neutral – especially not when it becomes a part of everyday life for individuals in vulnerable situations, which is often the case for people living with dementia,” Assistant Professor Frederik Schou-Juul, one of the researchers behind the study, explains.
The ethical dilemmas concern issues such as autonomy, privacy, and dignity. For example: What does it mean for a person’s freedom if they can be tracked via GPS? Who owns the data that is collected? And what happens to human relationships if technologies like robots replace human contact?
“Although technological solutions may make everyday life safer and promote independence for people living with dementia, there are also concerns. Some fear increased surveillance, that care will become more impersonal, or that technology might be used in ways that strip people with dementia of influence, dignity, or social contact,” says Frederik Schou-Juul.
Must be implemented with care
The researchers highlight three main ethical dilemmas. One is the question of autonomy: technologies can both support and limit self-determination, depending on how and by whom they are used. This is particularly evident with GPS tracking, where the desire for freedom may conflict with relatives’ need for reassurance.
Privacy is another central theme, explains Research Leader og Associate Professor Sigurd Lauridsen, who also contributed to the study:
“Many technologies are based on surveillance and data collection, which raises questions about both physical and digital privacy – not only for the person living with dementia but also for relatives and professionals in home or institutional settings,” he explains.
In addition, the study suggests that certain technologies may be stigmatizing, both in their function and design. When technology becomes a visible marker of vulnerability or illness, it risks contributing to marginalisation rather than inclusion.
According to the study, this means that technology must be implemented thoughtfully.
“All technologies in dementia care involve ethical considerations, precisely because the target group is often vulnerable and has limited capacity to make informed decisions. This doesn’t mean the technologies shouldn’t be used—on the contrary. But we must carefully consider how and why they are applied,” says Sigurd Lauridsen.
The target group should be involved
The study provides a number of recommendations on how to address these ethical challenges. First, it emphasizes the importance of integrating ethical considerations early in both the design and implementation of the technologies.
Moreover, it underscores that people living with dementia and their relatives should be actively involved in the development process, so that the technologies aren’t simply imposed on them from the outside. Finally, the technologies should be tailored to individual needs.
“Technological solutions affect people’s lives and relationships. Therefore, it is crucial that developers of welfare technologies, decision-makers, care staff, and relatives approach the ethical aspects consciously and responsibly,” says Sigurd Lauridsen.
Contact: Assistant Professor Frederik Schou-Juul, Phone: +45 6550 7747, Email: fsch@sdu.dk and Research Leader and Associate Professor Sigurd Lauridsen, Phone: +45 6550 7810, Email: sila@sdu.dk, National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark