Dementia and Cognitive Support from Companion
Updated: Oct 20
When a relative or loved one is suffering with Dementia or similar cognitive impairments, it can create something of a dilemma when it comes to their wellbeing and happiness.
One the one hand, they clearly need an extended level of care, which is something they may even admit themselves. On the other hand, their independence is extremely valuable to them despite living with cognitive impairments.
Managing care for a dementia patient can be a balancing act between ensuring their happiness and wellbeing. Living independently and safely for as long as possible is often the goal as none of us would ever want to be forced out of their home to live somewhere new and unfamiliar.
This can be a delicate subject, especially when the patient is living in a family house, or a home they’ve been in for a long time. None of us would ever want to be forced out of our homes to live somewhere new and unfamiliar, so it’s understandable that they wouldn’t either.
So, how can we give you the best of both worlds?
With a Companion Watch, of course!
By configuring your watch to either Cognitive Support or Dementia Support, you can keep a watchful eye over the daily activities of the wearer, without having to routinely call or visit to check on them. Thanks to the watch’s built-in falls detection and GPS tracking systems, you can have peace of mind knowing that if anything happens, you’ll be notified quickly.
Cognitive Support Vs Dementia Support
We created the Companion Watch to accompany you and your loved ones all the way through your wellness journey. Sometimes, a change in your cognitive or physical condition could mean that your needs change, too. If this happens, your Companion can be reconfigured to reflect your new activities and routine, ensuring consistent support for you and your care network.
Which option should I choose?
It depends entirely on the physical and cognitive wellness of the watch wearer. For example:
If you or your loved one are experiencing the early stages of Dementia, Alzheimers or a similar condition that mildly affects day-to-day living, then try your Companion Watch in the Cognitive Support configuration.
If you or your loved one are suffering with more advanced Dementia, Alzheimers or similar conditions where cognitive and motor abilities are severely impaired, try opting for the Dementia Support option.
Remember, we can easily reconfigure the watch if your chosen option becomes unsuitable for the wearer’s lifestyle, so there is no need to worry if things change.
What’s the difference between the two?
Between the two configurations, we have dialled down the wearer’s ability to use the watch’s functions themselves, and we have removed some of the chimes and alerts that would ordinarily sound through the watch.
The idea here is to reduce the potential for confusion or anxiety - remember, a new piece of tech may be daunting to an elderly Dementia patient. A fashionable new watch, however, is a lot easier to understand, and more likely to be worn regularly.
Check out the comparison below to learn the differences:
Cognitive Support | Dementia Support |
Cognitive Support configuration limits the wearer’s ability to operate the functions of the watch, and with it, the chance of confusion or anxiety on the wearer’s behalf. New or complicated technology can be daunting for some, so making the wearer’s life easier makes them more likely to continue using the watch. | Dementia Support configuration completely removes the wearer’s ability to operate the Companion watch. Behind the scenes, it is still collecting wellness data, tracking GPS and will still raise the alarm in the event of a fall. To the wearer, however, it is simply a stylish new timepiece. This ensures the watch wearer is being safely monitored with minimal confusion. All the wearer has to do is put their watch on in the morning, and return it to its charging cradle when the battery is low. |
"SOS" button enabled | "SOS" button disabled to prevent false alarms |
Calls to the watch are answered automatically | Calls to the watch are answered automatically |
User cannot make calls from the “Names” list | User cannot make calls from the “Names” list |
The watch will not make any alerts or chimes that might confuse the wearer i.e. No Movement Alarms or battery warnings | The watch will not make any alerts or chimes that might confuse the wearer i.e. No Movement Alarms or battery warnings |
Falls Detection - Helping to Keep Them Safe
One of the biggest concerns of family members is that elderly or disabled loved ones may experience a fall in their home, but the Companion Watch ensures that if a fall occurs, you will be immediately notified. The watch also brings comfort to the wearer, as they are safe in the knowledge that if they do fall, a family member will automatically be alerted, and help will soon be at hand.
The intelligent Companion watch can register when the wearer has a fall, thanks to its in-built accelerometer. In the event of the fall, the watch will begin to raise alerts to those monitoring the watch, who then have the option to call the watch directly to check on the wearer.
Learn more about Falls Detection
Cognitive Support | Dementia Support |
Alerts are triggered when a fall is detected, or the wearer presses the “SOS” button. | Alerts are triggered only when a fall is detected. |
GPS Tracking and Wandering Alarm
The Companion tracks the watch wearer’s location constantly while being worn, meaning you can monitor the wearer’s wellbeing while ensuring they retain their independence.
Depending on your configuration, you can set up “Safe Zones” that the wearer regularly visits, or you can have the watch begin tracking as soon as the wearer leaves their home.
If a fall is detected, the watch will securely share its GPS location, helping you to find and assist the wearer.
Find out more about Companion’s GPS tracking
Cognitive Support | Dementia Support |
Watch will track GPS outside of the home only if Safe Zones are set up. | Watch will track GPS outside of the home without needing Safe Zones to be set up. |
The Companion App – Offering Reassurance 24/7
The Companion Watch is empowering family members/circle of care (up to 8 people) with full and easy access to the watch wearers wellness and activity data via their mobile, tablet or desktop devices.
In all configurations, wellness data is measured and collected by the watch constantly. This can be viewed through the user portal and utilised to keep tabs on the wearer's general health and mobility. Family members have peace of mind that if any excessive variability in health metrics is detected, this will be alerted to them via the app.
Your Companion Watch collects wellness data including: Activity and no-movement If the watch isn’t worn, or the watch detects no movement for a period of time, then a no-movement alarm is raised. Heart rate Heart rate is recorded every 10 minutes during the day, and every 30 minutes at night. Respiratory rate Respiratory rate is also recorded, and any spikes or anomalies in data are visible through the app. |
Learn more about the Companion App
What if the wearer requires less care?
The Companion Watch can help with this too! Check out our configurations for Active Living At Home Support or Care Referral.