How Dundee man uses Alexa to help with his dementia

Many of us ‘ask Alexa’ to play music, control our lights and even catch up on the news.

But a Dundee man has found it helps him manage his dementia.

Ron Coleman is living with the health condition as well as being an insulin dependent diabetic.

And he’s using the Amazon voice assistant to help him manage in his own home.

He’s found it so successful that he’s now sharing his story as part of a new campaign to raise awareness of how it can help others.

Ron is one of many people who have discovered how the technology can help assist and enhance their lives.

What is an Amazon Alexa?

Amazon Alexa, or Alexa, is what’s known as a virtual assistant technology.

It can be used to play music, make to-do lists, set alarms and stream podcasts.

Alexa can also control several smart devices including lights or doorbells.

Asking Alexa to help with his dementia

Because Ron is living with dementia, he admits it means he often forgets things, especially from his daily routine.

But after his diagnosis, he started to explore how Alexa could keep him safe in his own house.

He says: “One of the biggest damages it did to me in terms of my routine was it affected my confidence.”

“When I got dementia, I really started exploring how I can use Alexa to keep me safe in my own house.

“I started seeing possibilities of a future where I could retain my own autonomy.”

How does Ron use his Amazon Alexa?

Ron records his daily schedules and daily reminders.

Simple things, like reminding him to eat lunch and displaying his routine on screen, means he still feels independent.

He adds: “I could use Alexa to slow down the process of me needing more and more direct care from people and that keeps me free.

“Alexa’s no stranger in my house. It’s part of our house.”

Ron shares his story

Ron has also shared his story of how Alexa has helped him stay confident and maintain his independence as part of a new collection called Alexa’s Stories.

His story is included in the campaign which showcases how people are using the technology to help live their lives.

Ron adds: “I set out to prove that I could live independently and that dementia didn’t control who I am.

“That I control who I am.”