Studies on appropriate everyday technology for the persons who are mild cognitive impairment

In Japan, the dementia persons have been over 4.6 million in March 2013, exceeded an estimate of Ministry of Health Labor and Welfare. People have to move to institute when the dementias become worse. So to be dementia is one of the fears for the elderly persons and his/her family. As the dementia is worsening disease, the cognitive functions are gradually dropped in 10 to 12 years from the diagnosis. The boundary stage between normal and dementia is so called MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment). In the early stage or MCI, if some accident happens, the family member may inhibit his/her daily activity like cooking or shopping. Then no-use syndrome may worsen the cognitive functions. The authors visited 91 elderly persons who live alone or stay alone in daytime. They interviewed what kind of everyday technology they have and using. The refrigerator and microwave oven will support eating and the telephone or mobile phone will support communication between family or care giver, and the T.V. set will support receiving information. The authors describe some findings from the investigations to keep independent life as long as possible.