Non‑pharmacological care for early-stage dementia through smart environments in Colombia: a mixed‑methods study and methodological guide for caregivers and patients.

Background: Dementia is increasing in Latin America, creating demand for non-pharmacological support that can be delivered safely at home. Smart environments and related digital tools may help caregivers and people with early-stage dementia by supporting safety, reminders, and communication. This study assessed needs and acceptability in Colombia and produced a methodological guide for technology selection. Methods: We conducted a sequential exploratory mixed-methods study. First, a focused evidence synthesis informed a feature catalogue and instrument design. Second, we administered a cross-sectional questionnaire to caregivers and people living with early-stage dementia. Quantitative data were summarised with descriptive statistics and non-parametric group comparisons; open-ended responses were analysed thematically and integrated with the quantitative findings. Results: Fifty-one responses were analysed. Safety-oriented functions (for example, fall detection and geolocation), reminders for activities of daily living, tele-assistance, and cognitive tele-stimulation were the most frequently prioritised. Acceptability was generally higher for low-burden technologies with clear usefulness, and age differences were limited across key comparisons. Conclusions: In this sample, smart-environment-enabled non-pharmacological support was feasible and broadly acceptable for early-stage dementia care. The methodological guide emphasises prioritising safety and reminders, reducing interaction burden, and incorporating privacy-by-design. Further studies should validate these findings with larger and more diverse samples and evaluate implementation outcomes.