➋Smart Speakers
Voice-Activated Support for Daily Life
Smart speakers are helpful devices that respond to your voice—providing information, playing music, or reminding you of important events and tasks. With simple, hands-free operation, they can be especially useful for supporting the daily lives of older adults with dementia, offering both reassurance and greater independence.
Amazon Echo is a smart speaker developed and sold by Amazon, equipped with the voice assistant Alexa. By simply speaking to it, users can play music, hear weather or news updates, set alarms and reminders, and more—making it especially user-friendly for those who may not be comfortable with complex devices.
In dementia care settings, Alexa can support daily routines by providing voice reminders for medications and appointments, helping reduce feelings of isolation, and promoting greater independence. For example, saying “Alexa, what time should I take my medicine?” or “Alexa, what’s the weather today?” enables natural and supportive interaction.
When connected with smart home devices, Alexa can also control lights, TVs, and more by voice, contributing to a safer and more comfortable living environment. It’s a practical tool that brings both reassurance and convenience to everyday life.
Google Nest Hub
The Google Nest Hub is a smart display developed and sold by Google, equipped with the Google Assistant voice assistant. In addition to voice commands, it supports touch controls, allowing users to check the weather and news, play music or videos, and set reminders or timers—providing support for daily life through both visual and auditory cues.
In the context of dementia care, the ability to display and announce reminders for schedules and medication is especially helpful. When linked with Google Photos, the Nest Hub can also function as a digital photo frame, automatically showing personal photos that can help stimulate memory and provide emotional comfort. Playing music or nature videos from YouTube further offers moments of relaxation and mood enhancement.
When connected to compatible smart home devices, the Nest Hub also allows users to control lights, air conditioning, and more using their voice. It is gaining attention as a useful tool for safe, comfortable, and supportive home care.
認知症ケアへの活用例
Use Cases in Dementia Care
