Harnessing Technology to Help People with Dementia Remain at Home

Age Scotland is excited to be partnering in a new £2 million research network, CONSOLIDATE, which will explore how technology can help people living with dementia to remain independent for longer.

Led by Heriot-Watt University, the University of Strathclyde and Age Scotland, the network brings together a range of key partners, including Alzheimer Scotland, Meeting Centres Scotland, Carers Scotland, The Community Renewal Trust and NHS Boards across Scotland. The goal of this initiative is to develop innovative technologies that will enhance the social, mental, and physical capacities of people living with dementia, helping them maintain independence and improve their quality of life.

The CONSOLIDATE network is funded by UKRI’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Society. It is one of four new networks announced today to tackle this critical issue.

The Need for Independent Living Support

Currently, around one million people in the UK are living with dementia, and this number is expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040.

According to a survey by the Alzheimer’s Society, 85% of people said they would prefer to stay at home for as long as possible after a dementia diagnosis. However, for many, this can be a challenge without the right support.

Research suggests that dementia progression can be slowed by promoting cognitive skills, self-care activities, and social engagement. Technology could play a vital role in this, but only if it is designed with the real needs of people living with dementia and their families in mind.

At Age Scotland, we are committed to ensuring that people with lived experience of dementia are at the heart of designing and developing new technologies.

Anna Clements, Head of Dementia at Age Scotland, said:

“At Age Scotland, we believe that working with people who have lived experience of dementia is essential to everything we do. Any new technology must be designed with them, not just for them.

"For example, sensor technology can help make living spaces safer and more secure, but people living with dementia want more than to simply be monitored.

"They want technology that supports their independence, helps them stay engaged and allows them to live independently for as long as possible.

"Focusing only on safety, while important, doesn’t help people retain their abilities or stay as active as they’d like. For those in the early stages of dementia, we want to explore how technology can support their independence now while also adapting to their future needs.”

Dementia is progressive and people at different stages have different needs in terms of what would enable them to live independently.

Professor Alan Gow, Heriot-Watt University, explained:

“Technology has immense potential to support people living with dementia, from virtual assistants promoting social, mental, and physical engagement, smart sensors to monitor activity, and even robots that aid with daily tasks - the tools exist.

“But to truly support independence, the design of these technologies must be driven by the needs and aspirations of the people they are there to serve.”

Professor Mario Parra Rodriguez, University of Strathclyde, added:

“By equipping emerging technologies with knowledge contributed by relevant disciplines and mapping such developments to the needs and preferences of those who will benefit from them, we can achieve unprecedented levels of personalised care.

“CONSOLIDATE moves away from the 'one-size-fits-all' approach as it aims to support the development of new technologies that can adapt to the changing needs of diverse populations living with dementia.”

These combined approaches ensure that new technology can support people in the early stages of dementia while also adapting to their future needs.

Age Scotland is inviting individuals and organisations to join CONSOLIDATE. There are opportunities to participate in research, help shape activities and apply for funding.

To get involved, fill in the contact form here: https://forms.office.com/e/GPX8syy6rP