Our Memory Function is something that we lose to different degrees over time. We can also have an accident or illness that affects our memory. Memory loss can be an indicator of serious problems (stroke, tumors, cancer, alcohol, Parkinson’s Disease, Vascular dementia, toxins, Alzheimer’s, other dementia, and many others) that need to be found sooner than later. Memories need to be exercised, reinforced, and tested for to determine our current and trending memory capabilities that can affect us, and catch them as soon as possible.

 

In addition to helping determine potential diseases we may have or be getting, and keeping our minds active, the App helps people stay safe and live independently. It helps us remember to do and check things that need to be done. It notifies our selected contacts if we might be having a hard time and need just a little help

 

The Memory (and memory retention) Test APP is envisioned to help in many different areas:

• Help reinforce the individuals memories

• Help keep the individuals brain sharp

• Help remind and remember the things the individual is supposed to do that day (including preparing for things in the future)

• Help determine the current state of the individual’s memory

• Determine any trends in our memory function that should be watched

• Help identify tasks that were not completed, and remind the individual to do them

• Make overall evaluations of any short or long term issues and create alerts as needed

 

The tests would be designed to be facilitated by the Individual, Guardian/Caregiver/Family, Call Center, Volunteer, and/or a Healthcare Professional. The tests become part of the individual’s profile. They can be scheduled through the System Scheduler through their control station to provide automated tests, or provided by an individual when a resource is scheduled or available to give the test.  For example, if there was a daily call to check on the person, a quick set of questions could be provided to determine their current state and escalate as needed.

 

There are several different types of tests that would be available, and different combinations of those tests can be scheduled. Some of the tests would be commercial- off-the-shelf, while others can and should be customized for the individual using sight and sound. The testing can be automated or manually initiated tests used in everyday life, and/or part of a regularly scheduled examination or “remote check-in”.

 

“Two-Way Voice” and “Voice Recognition” would be used by the System or individual performing the test to aid in its administration.  “Remote Presence” may also be an option in providing the tests, or providing information on the individuals screen during a test.  Each question would be worth a certain amount of points (based on several conditions) and each test would include a score with an alert threshold for any needed follow-up.

 

The main categories of tests include:

• Customizable questions, sound, pictures, and/or video (created through a separate APP, probably by a family or guardian)

• Customizable personal memory reinforcement  exercises, reinforcing the individual’s  memory of  people, places, upcoming events, and things they may need to do or check

• Standard Memory Retention tests

• Memory strengthening puzzles and exercises

 

Simple sets of customized questions and memory reinforcement items (e.g. Scripts) can be made available for Call Centers, Social Advocacy Groups, Family, Guardians, Health Professionals, Centers, Volunteers, and Personal Services Providers (written in their special instructions) to provide quick “testing” of an individual remotely or in person. By “testing”... this would be a simple set of questions (name, kid’s names, phone number, etc.) to do a quick check of the person’s mental state at that point, and set up any follow-up actions that may be needed.

 

These memory tests would also be associated with the “Adaptive Intelligent Examination/Treatment Decision Tree” App, the “At Risk” App, and possibly an abbreviated version in the standard “Public Identity and Information System” App.  These can also be used in Retirement, Assisted Living, and Nursing Centers. Although this may sound contradictory, “The more eyes and ears you can place on an individual, the safer and independent a person can be”.

 

As with other tests, the results are documented (for future review), analyzed/trended, and proper notifications and escalations would be made by the System. In addition to verbal or tactile responses, some tests might include time to complete, stress, speech quality, requests for replay/repeat of questions, and number of reminders required to perform tasks, which are all measurable.

 

Reinforcing Individual’s Memories

 

It is envisioned that an additional App, would be created to be able to be used by Family, Friends, Social Advocacy Groups, etc. to identify key things that an individual should remember and put them in one or more multimedia presentation/tests, as well as an abbreviated written script.

The multimedia presentation could include people, events, and places the individual should know, and/or enjoy viewing. Each question would have one or more responses (e.g. there could be more than one name for an individual or describing an answer), and a score based on the answer and how many times the question needed to be repeated.

 

The abbreviated written script (which could include things that the person is supposed to do that day), is a quick way for a person to ascertain the individual’s ability to function at the time and set up any required follow-ups.

Personalized Photo Album slide shows could also be incorporated as a “screen saver” to also help with reinforcement.

 

Reminding and Remembering things an Individual is supposed to do that Day

People often review their schedule, task list, or go over planned activities with other people. This helps them see what they need to do and be able to better plan and execute them. This feature is envisioned to act like a personal assistant to review the different things an individual is going to do that day. This can be automated and performed by the system in a two way communication with the individual, or for a more personal human touch, this information would be visible for a caregiver to review the tasks.

 

Determine the Current State and trends in an Individual’s Memory and Mental Capacity

 

There are standard tests and evaluations to help determine individual’s current mental capacity and state. The System envisions expanding this concept to perform regular testing (automated and by care providers) and trend the results of this tests to determine any short term or long term deterioration in and individual’s mental capacity, so that adjustments and treatments can be made. The System further expands this concept to create general testing with customized personal/individual test components to help determine any issues.

 

Additional trending could also be done on time of day, change in medicines, or after taking medicines.

 

Keeping the Individuals Brain Sharp

 

There are many different existing Apps in this area, as well as many opportunities for new Applications. They can be bundled, scheduled, and part of the overall evaluation of the individual’s memory functions… or just selected by the individual for a diversion or entertainment.

• Standard APPs for crosswords, Sudoku, solitaire, word games, and other puzzles and games (especially ones where the level of difficulty can be set)

• Short interesting Podcasts with some questions at the end

• Adaptations to TV Game Shows (with the possibility of being able to customize the questions/categories, and/or create ones related to the individuals life

 

Helping to identify tasks that were not completed, and remind the Individual to do them

 

The System provides a type of safety net for the individual by using the Scheduling Service and other triggers, to identify things that need to be done or checked. These can also be measured and trended to see if there are any emerging issues.

 

Some examples include:

• Check that the Stove is turned off

• Check that the refrigerator door is closed

• Check the door is locked (if it had been opened)

• Take a pill or eye drops

• Perform a physical exercise

• Take a test

• Take out trash

• Someone coming over

• Bathed, brushed teeth, etc.

• Check back with a Doctor’s Office

• Someone’s Birthday

 

Alerting and Escalating Issues

 

All most all of the presented test, evaluations, and general monitoring are measurable through automation and/or other individuals. They can determine if there is a bad day, or trends that are showing longer term deterioration. Many of these can be administered and/or directly interpreted by the System, with added checks and reinforcement from individuals they encounter family, guardian, call center, service provider, volunteer, etc. Each of these can create data and events that can be escalated, or summarized for evaluation at their next applicable examination.

 

Changes in Behavior

 

Another related area to look at would be in trying to determine changes in behavior. Using passive and active Audio and Visual Recognition Tools, Stress Tests, Baselines, and input from people in contact with the individual (friends, family, personal service providers, center workers, volunteers, etc.) changes in behavior that could point to other problems could be captured earlier and notify the proper individuals.