I attended this very interesting conference focused on technologies for assisting and empowering people with learning disabilities (PWLD), including elderly people with dementia, many of which also have physical impairments;
see programme at http://www.pavpub.com/pavpub/conferences/showfull.asp?Conference=895

I could see practical technology applications at the conference exhibition and then visiting after the conference various residences and homes for PWLD managed by HFT (UK charity who organised the conference). What I got from this trip is that

TECHNOLOGY CAN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE BOTH:
A) THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES
B) THE QUALITY AND EFFICICIENCY OF THE WORK OF THEIR CARERS.

More specifically:

* A lot can be achieved with simple/ unexpensive tecnology-enabled applications,
e.g. dectors and sensors (for fire and water hazards, falls, epilepsy seizures, people with dementia leaving the premises...); environmental and emergency controls (monitors and cameras, adapted switches, panic buttons...); simplified white goods and communication services (picture phones, washing machine with couple of buttons...).

* Tecnology applications are an important element of a personalised and comprehensive approach for supporting a PWLD. Each application needs to be tested and adapted for each person's needs (which evolve over time), with the involvement of the carer.

* Tecnology-enabled applications improve the autonomy and thus the self-esteem of PWLD. As a 1st step technology enables PWLD to gain control over their own safety, which is a pre-requisite for living independently, then technology allows PWLD to better manage their daily living.

* Moreover, using technology in relation to safety and daily leaving, as well as following ICT courses then using the skills learned, can greatly improve the PWLD confidence and empower them.

* Technology use for PWLD assistance also has benefits on the quality and efficiency of the work of their carers, e.g. dedicated software programmes allow for better planning and monitoring of personalised care; savings in hours dedicated to clerical tasks like watching if someone with dementia leave the premises (this can be entrusted to movement detector) which allows more time for more added-value tasks, etc.

It is important to identify and measure the impact from the use of technology in terms of quality of life and efficiency. Another ePractice community was recently started on this: http://www.epractice.eu/community/ageingimpact