Play2Care: Gamified Training App for Dementia Caregivers Launched

The Institute of Mental Health (IMH) in Singapore, in collaboration with Taggle, has launched an innovative mobile application, Play2Care, aimed at enhancing communication training for caregivers of people with dementia. Available on Android and iOS, Play2Care gamifies the training process, featuring explanatory videos on the T.A.N.G.O. caregiving approach developed by IMH. These videos demonstrate practical techniques across five common caregiving scenarios, helping caregivers apply these strategies effectively.

Play2Care also includes mini-games for caregivers and patients to play together, designed with adult caregivers in mind, featuring large fonts, high-contrast buttons, and slow-paced voiceovers and animations. In a small pilot involving five participants, IMH found that Play2Care enhanced caregivers' knowledge of dementia and their comfort levels in interacting with dementia patients. The app addresses behavioral challenges by teaching caregivers to understand and manage symptoms like agitation and repeated requests.

IMH's T.A.N.G.O. communication strategy encompasses a tender approach, acknowledging emotions, avoiding confrontation, engaging in simple conversations, and optimizing the environment for comfort. Dr. Yao Fengyuan, a senior consultant at IMH, emphasized the need for creative ways to impart these techniques beyond traditional classroom settings. The Play2Care app aims to fill this gap, providing caregivers with a practical tool to alleviate stress and improve care.

Globally, digital approaches to senior care are becoming more common due to staff shortages. For instance, Singapore recently introduced a mobile app prototype to help seniors improve multilingual thinking to slow dementia progression. In Australia, the MATCH project, funded by Google.org, incorporates music-based interventions into a training app for dementia caregivers. Additionally, startups like Andromeda Robotics offer empathetic humanoid robots for elderly care, and South Korean governments are deploying AI-driven companion robots to support solo-living seniors.

The IMH has previously embraced gamified DTx for ADHD, read more here.

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