Holly Williams, a regular contributor to Elli Cares, reflects on the NZ Dementia Foundation’s July 2025 panel discussion, "Technology That Matters".
Dementia technology is expanding rapidly, offering new ways digital tools can enhance care and provide support. From virtual reality headsets that spark a smile to in-home sensors that quietly detect safety concerns, we're in an exciting era where barriers to bright ideas are falling away.
Some technologies stand out. Others work silently in the background. What matters most is how well they fit into the lives of those who use them.
This theme was front and centre at the NZ Dementia Foundation’s online panel, "Technology That Matters", where I had the chance to speak alongside other dementia tech innovators from New Zealand as part of the Elli Cares team.
Together, we explored the common challenges, opportunities, and, importantly, what it means to live independently.
But there was one theme I didn’t anticipate:
The nature of balance.
The kind of balance that weighs safety and independence, along with clarity and complexity.
And finding it?
That's the challenge we face together.
The Tech Ecosystem
As a whole, the aged tech landscape can seem overwhelmingly limitless and complex, much like a diverse natural ecosystem.
But examine the individual components and you’ll notice that each tech innovation occupies a specific niche and solves particular context-related challenges.
This brings us to a key insight.
Meeting Unique Needs at Scale
As the panel discussion progressed, I noticed a recurring thought:
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution.
Each family faces their own set of challenges. John Bennett from Guardian Support Services described how the right dementia technology can look different depending on the individual and their family.
Some people look for digital tools that help them stay connected to a loved one who lives overseas. Another family might need digital tools that help them coordinate check-in duties as they juggle childcare, work, and appointments in an already hectic day.
For innovators, this sparks the question:
How can we design tech to help as many people as possible, when each case is different?
The Power of Personalisation
Developing tech that makes a meaningful impact is a dance.
🌎 As an innovator, your solution needs to be general enough to be viable and distributed at scale.
🧍But for individuals, it needs to be personal and defined to effectively solve unique challenges.
Perhaps this is exactly where personalisation bridges the gap.
Imagine being given a canvas, brush, and set of paints. Now, you have all the tools you need to create a design that is uniquely yours.
For example:
Download the Elli Cares app, and the interface will look like a friend who does the same - that is, until you add reminders, assign trusted connections to your care team, and ultimately create a platform that reflects you.
✧ Customisation empowers users to tailor technology so it can better address their needs.
👉 Read more: Does personalisation really make a difference in dementia tech?
The Secret Ingredient in Tech Design?
How many times have we all heard the phrase, “less is more”?
When it comes to technology, we often gravitate toward tools that are intuitive and easy to use. But the truth is, tech that appears simple is rarely so under the surface. It’s usually the result of a highly complex, thoughtful process.
This is especially true in dementia tech development. The final product, whether it’s a device, tool, or app, might look minimalistic. But behind the scenes, a lot has gone into making it that way.
Take Julie Caldwell, founder of the Kitcal® tablet. She shared how the final dementia-inclusive design came out of extensive collaboration: sessions with people living with dementia, user feedback, and partnerships with designers and manufacturers.
The same is true for the Elli Cares app. Its user-friendly interface is the result of countless meetings, co-design sessions, and pilot studies involving care professionals and families.
It’s a constant cycle of developing, testing, and refining.
✧ The best tech isn’t simple by nature… But rather gives the illusion of simplicity.
Balancing Independence and Safety
The ability to make decisions gives us a sense of empowerment. Who we choose to visit, how we spend our time, and the goals we set are all expressions of autonomy. As Erika Butters, founder of the Volition supported decision-making app, noted: having control over our choices gives us agency.
And that’s exactly what independence in later life looks like: the power to choose living how to live in a way that brings meaning, with access to support when you need it.
This is where technology like Elli Cares makes a significant impact. It enables safer oversight and enhanced connection without intruding on privacy. It's not about taking over control, but enhancing people's ability to live more safely with support in easy reach.
Addressing Evolving Care Needs
When we reflect on independence, it's important to understand that the needs of people living with dementia commonly change over time, due to:
- Changes to personal circumstances (health, preferences, symptoms and stage of dementia, emotions, lifestyle)
- Shifts in the environment (caregivers, visitors, family members, home safety, and general living environment)
So, what should caregivers and families know about choosing the right tech?
A good start is to:
- Understand the individual's circumstances and preferences
- Stick with what they are already familiar with
- Observe how they respond to new technology and adapt if needed
Adopting dementia tech isn’t a “set and forget” process. It's ongoing. As a person's needs evolve, the tools and support systems around them may need to evolve too.
Even in the later stages of dementia, tech still plays a valuable role.
Families can use coordination apps to manage care schedules. Passive in-home monitoring can detect behavioural changes or falls. And many people with dementia find comfort through sensory tech like therapeutic VR, music players, or comforting tactile objects like the HUG.
But there also comes a time when the safety risks of independent living outweigh the benefits. When that point arrives, regular direct supervision often becomes critical for care, with technology continuing to play a supportive role.
✧ Tech should evolve in line with the people it supports.
Final Thoughts
What stayed with me after the Technology That Matters panel were the heartfelt conversations, passion, and personal accounts of how technology had made a real difference in people’s lives.
The panel helped solidify ideas I’d been thinking about for some time.
Balancing the different needs of people living with dementia and their families is a real challenge. That’s why innovators, carers, and communities need to openly share ideas. Successful dementia technology isn’t based on assumptions, but grounded in insights from the people who are at the heart of the experience.
And I know this: New Zealand's future of aged tech is in good hands, led by people who genuinely care about making a positive difference.
A big thanks to the NZ Dementia Foundation for their invitation, and to the other panelists:
- Tracey Hawkes – Occupational therapist, and dementia mate wareware educator
- Abbey Moore – CEO, Chiptech
- Alister Robertson – Founder, MyLife reminiscence app; person living with dementia mate wareware
- Erika Butters – Founder, Volition supported decision-making app
- Jonathan Sibbles – Founder, Te Wana technology providers
- John (JB) Bennett – Founder, non-profit Guardian Support Services; carer
- Julie Caldwell – Carer; founder, Kitcal® easy-to-use tablet
- Linda Hoogenboom – Diversional therapist; founder, Quality Life (social enterprise)
- Holly Williams – Research and communications coordinator, the Elli Cares app
- Orquidea Tamayo Mortera – president of the New Zealand Society of Diversional and Recreational Therapists
- Rangimahora Reddy – CEO, Rauawaawa Kaumātua Charitable Trust
- Simon Burrows – Co-founder, Redever virtual reality experiences
👉 Curious about tech development? Read next: The Power of Universal Design & Accessibility
