Anyone who has experienced it first-hand knows how challenging it is: dementia patients require intensive care and round-the-clock support, placing enormous demands on their family carers. In most cases, it is spouses or (adult, sometimes older adults themselves) ‘children’ who care for their parents. Due to demographic developments, the number of people with dementia who need to be cared for by their relatives is increasing. According to the latest Dementia Report 2025 (in German), which was recently published, for example around 170,000 people in Austria live with some form of dementia, almost two-thirds of whom are women. By 2050, estimates suggest that this figure could rise to over 290,000. Many of them require 24-hour care.
In many cases, caring relatives are overwhelmed by the situation, especially when patients suffer from later stages of dementia and memory loss. According to recent studies, one third of caring relatives are at risk of depression. This is precisely where the DemiCare+ project, led by the AIT Centre for Technology Experience, comes in. The aim is to support caring relatives with digital solutions and innovative training courses, thereby specifically counteracting depression. A user-centered app (http://demicare.app) was already developed in the preliminary DemiCare project to relieve the burden on family carers and strengthen their care skills. The app has so far included interactive modules on topics such as dementia-friendly communication, coping strategies for everyday care with a person with dementia, and tips for self-care.
Focus on personalized support and depression prevention
‘By expanding the digital offering, which we intend to develop together with our project partners and users, we will be able to respond even more precisely to what is often a very challenging situation and provide family members of people with dementia with an assistive self-help offering,’ explains Markus Garschall, project manager and researcher at the AIT Center for Technology Experience.
The DemiCare+ project falls within the Social Experience research area at the AIT Center for Technology Experience. The aim is to drive technological innovations that meet social needs, promote social justice, diversity and equal opportunities (Diversity Experience), improve resilience and sustainability and enhance people's well-being. The goal of the research is to develop human-centered innovations in the spirit of digital humanism and to give everyone access to digital services and solutions (Accessibility).
More information in the press release of today, 24th of June 2025