Government-backed technologies support people living with dementia
Summary of DHSC press release
Cutting-edge research networks backed by government will tackle symptoms of dementia including memory loss and communication difficulties
People living with dementia are set to benefit from government-backed research designed to help them live more independently in their own homes.
Four new research networks led by the UK’s top researchers, developers, and health and social care professionals will focus on creating technologies to help dementia patients manage memory loss, communication difficulties and cope better with everyday tasks, in the hope of slowing the progress of the disease and maximising the time they can spend safely and happily at home.
The teams will work alongside people living with dementia and carers to ensure lived experience and changing needs are at the heart of innovation, delivering the government’s Plan for Change to shift healthcare from hospitals into the community, with better results for patients while also reducing pressure on the NHS.
The four successful networks are:
- University of Sheffield - to develop technologies to help dementia patients communicate as their disease progresses, supporting speech and memory challenges
- Heriot-Watt University - to develop technology to anticipate, and where possible slow, progression of dementia patients’ symptoms
- Northumbria University - to develop local hubs in rural and remote areas, where dementia patients can access technology to help them with everyday tasks
- Imperial College London - to develop easily used tools to support independent living and using artificial intelligence to support data analytics
Read the full press release here
How can My Life Films help people living with dementia?
Our innovative streaming service My Life TV offers hundreds of hours of carefully selected and created content to meet the cognitive needs of people living with dementia. Our programmes include specially produced quizzes, singalongs, drawing and chair yoga, as well as animal and nature programmes, feel good content, popular shows from the 1960s onwards and more.
It has been seen to improve the mood and wellbeing of people living with dementia, providing moments of calm, joy or stimulation as needed.
This is what Pearl and Enomoywi had to say about My Life TV:
