Forum: People with dementia need sincere care, not just AI tools
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The commentary “ What makes us human? AI and dementia offer a clue
As a community volunteer serving the elderly and a nurse in a government hospital, I am encouraged by the reminder that while artificial intelligence (AI) can support dementia care, it can never replace the human touch.
AI tools such as reminders, remote monitoring and digital assistants can ease the heavy demands of caregiving and help patients remain more independent. But what people with dementia truly need is not simulated care, but sincere care.
When I visit seniors in the community, I often hear that what matters most is not the gadgets around them but the people who sit with them, listen to their stories and simply spend time with them.
Likewise, in the hospital ward, I have seen how a gentle touch, a smile or a few moments of shared laughter can make more of a difference than any device ever could.
The article rightly notes that dementia calls us to our deepest human virtues: benevolence, faithfulness and unconditional love.
In an age where AI will inevitably play a bigger role in healthcare, we must be careful not to let technology overshadow what makes us human, which is our ability to cherish one another for who we are, not only for what we can do.
With the recent marking of World Alzheimer’s Month, let us ensure that technology enhances rather than replaces dignity in dementia care.
It is compassion, not code, that ultimately sustains our elderly and community.
Emily Yap Yong An
