POSTHCARD (PersOnalised SimulaTion Helping Caregivers to Cope with AlzheimeR Disease) is a learning platform for formal and informal caregivers that teaches them how to interact with Alzheimer patients and people with dementia.
In many care institutions and home situations, caregivers are often confronted with patients with dementia but often lack the specific training on how to respond. This can quickly lead to exhaustion and creates stress for both the carer and the patient. The POSTHCARD platform will help enhance the quality of care and improve the work conditions for care givers by simulating real life situations to help caregivers practice their reactions. In the simulation, users will be able to choose from various responses when interacting with the patient and gauge the success of their approach. Each simulation will be personalised to reflect the characteristics of different situations to help users find an appropriate strategy to reach their goal.
Vilans Researchers, Dr. Henk Herman Nap and Nienke Vos are coordinating the project, together with University Hospitals of Geneva, Alzheimer Nederland, ConnectedCare and other partners.
Nienke Vos: ‘The game is tailored to the personal situation. This means that the choices the player makes determines how it will develop further. It is also being combined with a digital environment where informal carers and community nurses will be able to find additional information.’
Dr. Henk Herman Nap: ‘Another important feature is that you can adjust the game to different stages of dementia. The game is also linked to the knowledge of dementia (care) for people who are seeking more in-depth or background information.’
POSTHCARD is a three-year project which started in 2018. It is being developed in co-creation with users and care givers and, upon completion, is expected to be available to customers and stakeholders such as family caregivers, home-care institutions, retirement homes and health insurance institutions.
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