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, 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 hopes 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:
-
The 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 AI to support data
analytics
The networks will also collaborate with a range of key partners
including NHS, Age UK, Alzheimer's Society, Alzheimer's Research
UK and local authorities and councils, to deliver the projects,
ensuring expertise at all levels is consulted on, and helping to
develop the best outcome.
The projects are being backed by government, with The Minister of
State for Health set to unveil £6.7 million in funding later this
week at the World Dementia Council Summit on Tuesday 25th
March.
The networks are funded by £6.7 million from the UKRI Engineering
and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the National
Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), in partnership
with Alzheimer's Society.
Minister of State for Health, Karin , said:
Dementia is a cruel and heartbreaking disease, not only for those
living with it, but for the families and friends who often watch
their loved one become a shadow of the person they once
were.
Backing these groundbreaking technologies won't just help people
with dementia - it'll transform their lives, giving people the
freedom to stay in their own homes, around the people they
love.
Moving care out of hospitals and into communities isn't just
smart healthcare - it's about giving people independence. Britain
will be at the forefront of dementia innovation, backing
cutting-edge research and rolling out life-changing technologies
that deliver real results for patients and families. This is
exactly the bold thinking we need at the heart of our Plan for
Change.
Science Minister, said:
Dementia is one of the biggest challenges to health and social
care of our time. These four networks will take on that
challenge, harnessing technology to improve the quality of life
for those living with the disease.
Helping people with Dementia to live more independently will
allow us to move their care from hospitals to communities,
reducing strain on the NHS and supporting the plans for health
that are key to our Plan for Change.
Professor Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Adviser at the
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Chief Executive
Officer of the NIHR said:
By developing networks and technologies that help people living
with dementia stay independent for longer, and closer to home, we
can help improve the quality of care that patients and their
families receive.
I welcome this collaboration which will increase the range of
support enabling dementia patients to live independently at home
and in their communities and freeing up vital time and resource
for other areas of treatment and care.
Professor David Sharp at Imperial College London, and the
Director of Care Research & Technology Centre, at the UK
Dementia Research Institute, said:
This is a really exciting opportunity that will bring together UK
scientists and partners from health and social care, industry,
third sector and lived experience, to develop new technologies
that will help people affected by dementia to live independently
for as long as possible.
According to an Alzheimer's Society survey, 85% of people have
said they would prefer to stay in their own home for as long as
possible if diagnosed with dementia, but many are currently
unable to do so. It is hoped these projects will help slow the
progression of the disease and provide a better quality of life
for people living with dementia, to help people out of hospital
and back into the community, where they're most comfortable.
