To Enhance Brain and Cognitive Functioning with Humanistic Buddhism Practice (HBP) Apps

Abstract

To develop brain training apps for elders and dementia sufferers, and to use Humanistic Buddhism Practice (HBP) as a tool for enhancing the cognitive function and emotional wellbeing of people with dementia. HBP apps have three activities: Fingertip-Writing (Humble Table, Wise Fare), Meditation (Humanistic Living Chan) and Read a Prayer (Pearls of Wisdom). A quasi-experimental study will be needed to evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention on enhancing the cognitive functioning and mental wellbeing. It will need both English and Chinese centers with nearly 100 elderly people to participate this study and do the assessment with the intervention of the app. This is an age friendly project for older people, that can enhance public knowledge about dementia. The research will also evaluate the benefits of the service model using apps for various users including dementia sufferers, family caregivers, and care center staff. The study will invite caregivers and staff to complete a questionnaire about the usage of the app, in order to investigate the opinions about ease of access and use of the app and the effects of the app as they experienced them.