The objectives of ENABLE were:

• Develop a test series of products that aim to enable the person with dementia to keep him/herself occupied with activities which give pleasure, support memory or facilitate communication, and to validate products that are commercially available.
  
• Develop a methodology for assessment and analysis of effects of products aimed to enable people with dementia living in their own home.
  
• Develop an approach towards cost/benefit analysis and make preliminary estimations based on the experience of users and carers.
  
• Examine whether such products can enable people with dementia and support their wellbeing by giving positive experiences, reducing worries and unrest, and reducing the burden on carers.
  
• Disseminate knowledge to people with dementia, their carers and organisations as well as to health and social care service systems and industry about the potential of enabling products.
  
• Make an overview of problems and needs which each of the products aim to solve or reduce both for the person with dementia, for their carers and for society.

The ENABLE project was concerned with development and adaptation of technological products which people with dementia (e.g. Alzheimer's disease) can use to carry out daily tasks which they previously were unable to do, due to the dementia disease. The selected products fall into three categories:

• devices to support memory (time orientation, taking medicines etc.)
• devices to provide pleasure and comfort (multimedia programmes)
• devices to facilitate communication (pre-programmable telephone)

People with dementia have tested the products up to one year, and effects of using them was studied through interviews with the users and their carers. Mitigation or solving problems for people with dementia, enhanced self-esteem and well-being as well as costs and benefits at individual and society level were recorded and analysed.

Ethical issues were addressed. Methodology for assessment of effects was developed as part of the project. The methodology provided a basis for outlining the protocol for the intervention trial with technological products. It included a set of methods and tools related to assessment of health condition, body structure and function, personal factors (personality, attitudes, education etc.) as well as environmental factors (home environment, level of care services).

Qualities of the products as well as other factors of importance for the observed effects were examined.

This is the web site of an exciting research project which was aimed at "marrying the new with the familiar" when developing and introducing new technology to people with dementia and their carers.

Funded by the European Commission under the Programme "Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources", Contract No. QLK6 - 2000 - 00653