促進長照機構內高齡失智症患者健康飲水之研究

A Study on Promoting Healthy Water Intake for Old Adults with Dementia in Long-Term Care Facilities

本研究採用人本設計（Human-Centered Design，縮寫HCD）策略，開發一款名為「健康水管家」的送水車，協助照護團隊記錄失智長輩的飲水量，並促進其水分攝取。失智症患者因生理和認知功能退化，面臨低攝取性脫水的風險，易引發泌尿道感染、住院率增加及慢性疾病惡化。本研究與失智照護團隊合作，充分結合其日常照護經驗，確保裝置設計能滿足實際需求。透過NFC技術，「健康水管家」可實時記錄送水時間與頻率，並追蹤長輩飲水量，有效促進自主飲水行為，增進長輩與照護人員間的互動。經8週的實際應用觀察，部分長輩主動索取飲水，證明該裝置能有效引導飲水行為。研究總結五項設計原則，旨在通過技術應用與人本設計，提升長輩飲水體驗並提高照護團隊的工作效率。本研究成功展示HCD在醫療照護裝置中的應用潛力，未來將持續優化設計，提升其實際應用效果。

This study adopts a Human-Centered Design (HCD) strategy to develop a water delivery cart called ''Healthy Water Butler,'' aimed at assisting care teams in recording the water intake of elderly dementia patients and promoting their hydration. Dementia patients face the risk of low-intake dehydration due to physiological and cognitive decline, which can lead to urinary tract infections, increased hospitalization, and exacerbation of chronic diseases. This study collaborates with dementia care teams, incorporating their daily care experiences to ensure the device design meets practical needs. Using NFC technology, the ''Healthy Water Butler'' can record water delivery times and frequencies in real-time while tracking the elderly's actual water intake. The device effectively encourages autonomous drinking behavior and enhances interaction between the elderly and care teams. An 8-week observation of its application revealed that some elderly patients actively requested water, demonstrating the device's effectiveness in promoting drinking behavior. The study outlines five design principles, aiming to improve the elderly's drinking experience through technology and human-centered design while enhancing care teams' efficiency. This study successfully demonstrates the potential of HCD in healthcare device design, with plans to continue optimizing the design for improved practical outcomes in the future.