Dementia & Alzheimer’s Australia Ltd in partnership with Deakin University, Barwon Health, National Ageing Research Institute Limited, and Ryman Healthcare has been awarded an ARIIA grant for their project ‘Improving workforce capability and capacity in communicating with people living with dementia (PLWD) using an artificially intelligent (AI) avatar’.
Dementia Australia, Deakin University, National Ageing Research Institute, Barwon Health and Ryman Healthcare will collaborate to evaluate the use of an AI Avatar conversational agent called ‘Talk with Ted’ as a learning tool for aged-care capacity development. The AI Avatar will be used to help improve communication skills that can contribute to decreased behaviours of concern and scalable dementia care practice improvement.
The AI avatar is an experiential learning tool that will provide highly engaging computer based learning opportunities for aged-care workers anywhere/anytime, via Dementia Australia’s online learning hub. Innovative and easy to use for all aged-care workers in Australia, the experience is suitable for diverse, regional and remote communities. Over 400,000 Australians live with dementia, which is projected to increase to 800,000 by 2058. 35% currently live in aged care. Furthermore, over two-thirds of Australian aged care residents live with cognitive impairment. Providing aged care professionals with easily accessible, engaging technology to practice and improve their communication skills and delivery of person-centred care is critical.
“If we get it right for dementia, we can get it right for everyone else” - Consumer Summit Communique.