The stove timer as a device for older adults with cognitive impairment or dementia: Different professionals' reasoning and actions

Abstract

It is common today to provide a timer attached to the stove for home-dwelling older adults with cognitive impairment or dementia. When the health care system provides assistive technology, different professionals are involved, and their views influence their actions. This study aims to illuminate the reasoning and views of different professionals involved in providing stove timers and supporting older adults with cognitive impairment or dementia at home, and to examine how their views guided their actions.

Interview data were gathered in focus groups with mixed professionals and home service aides. Findings show that all informants agreed on the purpose of the device being to ensure safety, and on the importance of timing and clients' motivation. However, their views and actions differed with regard to their clients as stove timer users, particularly related to a/issues of teaching and learning, b/ responsibility, c/ who the user is, and d/ what the stove timer is. Little attention was given to the process when a person was to become a user of the device. Hence, the device could bring about unwanted consequences, rather than protection, and the core category “From a mutual protective goal towards uncertain ends” was formulated.