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A Better Visit app

This app is useful for visitors, friends, and family to encourage interactions on their visits to whānau and friends with dementia.

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A Better Visit	By Dementia Australia
	Features Interactive. Games.
Clinical review	Read a clinical review below.
Security and privacy	Does the app: Collect medical information? No Require a login? No Have password protection? Not needed Have a privacy policy? Not needed Require internet access? Not once downloaded Read more about improving your safety and security when using apps. Brochures: Tips to improve your privacy and security [PDF, 65 KB] Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ Staying safe online(external link) Netsafe, NZ
Cost	Free
How to get the app	(external link) (external link) (external link)

A Better Visit app is designed to enhance communication and facilitate positive social interactions between people with dementia and their visitors.
Often family members struggle to interact and engage with a family member who no longer recognises them.

The app comprises games or activities that can be done together and in this way engages the person with dementia and stimulates discussion and enjoyment. You may need to explain games and read out questions, and try to engage your co-player by demonstrating, gently guiding, encouraging and turn taking. For the complete app description, go to the app website(external link), Google Play(external link), App Store(external link) or, for a more detailed review, see reviews below.

PROS	CONS
✔ Has 8 activities to choose from. ✔ Easy to use.	✘ Music can be annoying.

Clinical review

Reviewer: Dr Helen Kenealy, geriatrician and general physician, Counties Manukau DHB
Date of review: May 2020
Platform reviewed: Apple
Comments: This app encourages some fun interaction between people at visits. It has 8 activities to do on an iPad or Samsung device. There is a Traces game (using your finger you trace patterns that are repeated), Marble Maze (you can tilt or touch the screen to move the marble around the maze), Reveal (touching squares will slowly reveal a photo and you can guess at any time what the picture is), Co-colouring (by tracing over the page the colours appear), bowls (bowling online), Tic Tac Toe, Gone fishing (online fishing), Washing windows (tracing your finger to reveal a lovely scene).
I think it is pretty low rent – being free it would be worth downloading and giving it a go. There may be some patients who will like one or two of the activities but not others.
Safety concerns: None.
New Zealand relevance: Yes – although created by Dementia Australia, the app is relevant to a New Zealand audience.

Dementia | Mate wareware
Dementia apps
Consumer guide: how to choose a health app
Clinicians guide: how to choose a health app
NZ Health App Library

Disclaimer: The NZ Health App Library is a free consumer service to help you decide whether a health app would be suitable for you. Our review process is independent. We have no relationship with the app developers or companies and no responsibility for the service they provide. This means that if you have an issue with one of the apps we have reviewed, you will need to contact the app developer or company directly.