Implementing eHealth interventions in dementia care: Lessons learned

eHealth interventions are increasingly mentioned as solutions to challenges related to the rising costs of institutionalised care for people with dementia. eHealth interventions are provisions to improve physical and mental health by using the Internet. They can provide information on dementia and offer guidance through the care process. eHealth for dementia can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress, as well as increase caregiver self-efficacy, competency and dementia knowledge. Unfortunately, few eHealth interventions have sustainably been implemented into practice. The studies discussed in this chapter focused on both studying the literature and on examining the continued implementation of two specific eHealth interventions for dementia (Myinlife and Partner in Balance). The overarching conclusions of this implementation research were that future developers of eHealth interventions for dementia should aim to: (1) consider whether all effective eHealth interventions for dementia should be implemented into practice, with the use of checkpoints; (2) form ‘innovation clusters’ from the start; (3) construct flexible and intersectoral research designs; (4) create self-efficacy and ownership within implementing organisations and (5) incorporate human interaction into the eHealth implementation.