| By Lynne Corner
From dialogue to design: dementia care, communication, and connection
Yesterday we participated in an international insights sharing workshop co-designed and delivered in partnership with the Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) in Canada.
Dementia is a global challenge. Some estimates suggest that by 2030 there will be nearly 75 million people living with dementia across the globe and more of us will experience dementia either ourselves or have family members and friends who are living with dementia.
When it comes to understanding and supporting a person living with dementia, family carers are very often the most skilled and knowledgeable. Yet everyday carers can face a number of stressful situations that are difficult to deal with. Lewy Body Dementia, for example, remains one of the most challenging of conditions, especially due to the many communication problems associated with this condition, including hallucinations, fluctuating attention, memory loss, and sleep disturbance.
The nature of dementia means that things we take for granted in our everyday life, such as having a simple conversation, expressing what’s important to us, what we need, or want to do, can be really difficult.
Carers at NICA’s Dementia Innovation Hub identified communication as one of their top 3 priorities, for innovation, and shared hundreds of stories about their experiences of dementia.
Sharing stories and experiences is a first step – but what is critical is moving from dialogue to design and to delivery – rapid innovation to ensure that people have the products and services they urgently need, harnessing the best of Ageing Intelligence®, and making available imaginative, inspiring, yet practical, everyday products that can give a step change for improving people’s quality of life and wellbeing.
We are delighted to be working with Bianca Stern and colleagues at the Centre for Aging & Brain Health Innovation in Toronto, Canada on a series of workshops.
Both VOICE® and CABHI are focused on gathering the insights, experiences, and ideas of older adults to inform and drive innovations in ageing and brain health.
The outcome: more practical products and strategies to help improve communication, so crucial to maintaining relationships, understanding and meeting people’s needs.