Research To Help People With Dementia Live Independently

As a condition, dementia is particularly complex and it manifests in a range of different ways, with different people affected by it in their own unique way. 

Given research from Alzheimer’s UK showing that 85 per cent of people with dementia would choose to live at home for as long as possible following their diagnosis, it is vital that work is undertaken now to ensure that this can be facilitated.

To this end, the government has just announced that it will be supporting innovative research to address the debilitating symptoms of the condition, including communication difficulties, memory loss and managing everyday tasks, to help people live more independently in their own homes.

In all, four new research networks are being established, working closely with dementia patients and their carers, to position lived experiences and evolving needs at the heart of innovation, and deliver better patient outcomes while reducing pressure on the NHS.

These networks will collaborate with organisations including Age UK, the NHS itself, Alzheimer’s Research UK and the Alzheimer’s Society, as well as local authorities, to deliver these projects, which are being backed by £6.7 million in government funding.

Karin Smyth, minister of state for health, 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 ground-breaking 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.”

 

How to make your home dementia-friendly

We recently blogged about the home adaptations you could potentially make to ensure that your living spaces are equipped to handle changes in your physical needs following a dementia diagnosis.

Potential accessibility changes include ramps and steps, ensuring that bathroom facilities are easy to access, widening doorways and corridors to account for wheelchair use and putting switches and sockets within easy reach.

Another key point to consider is lighting, as people with dementia often see colours and shades differently. Changing the lighting to account for this, ensuring that it’s natural and consistent to keep glare and shadows to a minimum, can go a long way towards making the property safer in which to live.

Also consider switching out your flooring for improved health and safety, getting rid of any reflective or slippery surfaces, as well as anything with a bold pattern, as these can have an impact on your perception.

For the bathroom in particular, use toilet seats in contrasting colours to the appliances and walls so that they’re easier to see, doing similar for grab rails in the shower.

If you’d like to find out more about home adaptations such as these, get in touch with the Practical Bathing team today.