Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of AI-enabled assistive technologies, including wearable devices, in supporting people living with dementia; and what steps they are taking to ensure those technologies are safe, effective and accessible while maintaining standards of data protection and patient care.

The Government recognises the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) enabled assistive technologies, including wearable devices, to support people living with dementia by promoting independence, safety, and quality of life, and by helping carers and care professionals provide more personalised and responsive support.

To help assess the use of technologies in adult social care, the Government has funded the testing and evaluation of technologies, including AI-enabled technologies, through the Adult Social Care Technology Fund. Emerging evidence indicates positive outcomes for people in receipt of care, care professionals, and the wider health and social care system. People using technology experienced greater independence, safety, wellbeing, and quality of life. We will publish the findings from these projects.

We are in the process of developing trusted, accessible guidance and setting new standards for care technologies, including evidence standards which will help people identify which tech might be most useful for them. This will help people living with dementia, their carers', and care providers know which technologies are fit for purpose, secure, and compatible with the wider health and social care systems in the future, supporting them to invest in technology for the long term.