Egality Health’s Post

Back in 2019, during the finals of Deloitte’s Decoding Dementia, an educational experience awaited us. We were introduced to a Virtual Reality simulation that aimed to vividly portray the realities of living with dementia. The simulation guided us through the disorienting journey of waking up in the dead of night and attempting to find our way to the bathroom. In just a matter of minutes, I encountered the challenges of poor lighting and hazardous obstacles, leaving a profound impact on me. The following information is based on my experience, and I hope one or two of these tips can improve the lives of those living with dementia. https://lnkd.in/gukF8UxF #MyBuddyGard #PersonalGPSTrackers

Dementia Help Teams Up With DementiaNet CIC Many of my friends and colleagues know that I've spent the last seven years running Dementia Help, a highly engaged Facebook page, website and digital magazine offering free advice and support to family carers. It's been an intense labour of love, driven by my passion to offer carers the information I didn't get at the start of my mum's dementia journey. Information that I believe will benefit many carers. At times, it's felt like a lonely journey (much like being a carer), and to say it's been hard work would be an understatement. Thankfully, my husband, Dave Collison, has been an amazing supporter of Dementia Help, creating and managing our informative website. After years of hard work, I'm delighted to announce that Dementia Help has teamed up with DementiaNet CIC, a new intuitive web platform designed to help people manage life with dementia. DementiaNet CIC is now our exclusive headline sponsor and partner, and I couldn't be happier. I know it will be a great partnership. Launching in October, DementiaNet CIC will provide a unique and user-friendly digital experience to give structure and information for managing day-to-day life with dementia. Personally, I think it will be a game-changer for many carers. I wish it had existed when I was caring for my mum. Ahead of the website launch, DementiaNet CIC would love to hear your views on the information you've found online about dementia – or what info you couldn’t find. By participating in a short survey, you could win one of three £50 Amazon vouchers. 👉 Enter the survey here: https://lnkd.in/ehtVUg9Y

On Monday we spent an hour and a half at, quite possibly, the best dementia event I've attended since we began working in the space. Exploring and questioning how people with dementia are portrayed in the media, the Edinburgh Centre for Research on the Experience of Dementia/ Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Research Centre/ Willy Gilder's 'Live Well or Die Hard' event centred lived experience, shared insightful yet understandable and actionable research and brought together a range of voices I'm excited to hear more from. Some key takeaways: - the research of Design Informatics, University of Edinburgh's Nichole Fernandez picked apart the injustice of media's current portrayal of people with dementia – so often shown in hospital or in a care home, passively sitting or lying down, faces concealed, humanity and vitality removed. We must show what people with dementia CAN do - lived experience [again] shows the full spectrum of living with dementia, including all that can be added to life as opposed to simply detracted. The newness of an experience previously deemed mundane was noted as a prime example - in a culture so refusing to respect our aged, we face an uphill battle - 'polyphony' within the space is vital; we must appreciate and understand the lived experience at an individual level to understand the full spectrum of experience and better design for our ageing population - The Long Goodbye... as you can imagine From boom saloon's side, this event sparked a lightning bulb moment in terms of how we connect the final dots within our work to rewrite the story of dementia. Sometime, simple actions can best begin to shift the needle and this event brought to light a simple idea I can't wait to start implementing. With huge thanks to all who were a part of the event and brought this to the fore! Katey Warran Heather Wilkinson #dementia #design #media #representation

🧠 Caring for people with dementia. Did you know that around 1 million people in the UK are currently living with dementia? By 2040, that number is expected to rise to 1.4 million. Dementia not only affects memory but also impacts thinking, communication, and the ability to perform everyday tasks. As the condition progresses, people may need more support from carers, highlighting the need for strong community support. At Supersense Technologies, we are committed to creating a solution that supports people with dementia and families. Our vision goes beyond innovation—we aim to build a community where people can connect, share experiences, and offer mutual support. With personalised technology that adapts to the changing needs of individuals, we want to ensure everyone can maintain their independence for as long as possible. Together, we can enhance care, reduce isolation, and create a brighter future for those impacted by dementia. #DementiaAwareness #CommunitySupport #TechForGood #SupersenseTech #BrainHealth

Although dementia does not discriminate we know that the prevalence of young onset dementia is higher in minority ethnic communities than in the general population, and people with learning disabilities are also at greater risk of developing dementia at a younger age. We associate dementia with 'older' people but as of September 2022 over 70,000 people had young onset dementia. This was a 69% increase from 2014. Dementia is underdiagnosed and the data is incomplete. This means that people without a specific diagnosis cannot access the specialist care they need. The announcement that new data will be published to include a more detailed breakdown is important because it will enable us to recognise the specific challenges dementia brings. Become a campaigner to support research and care for those living with dementia. #care #dementia #Alzheimers

The SPECAL method introduces a very important change of perspective for the family, friends and carers of those with dementia and offers them a completely different way of looking at dementia. Common sense has to go out of the window when it comes to managing dementia, because it is likely to result in a progressively declining sense of confidence for the person with dementia. Carers need something quite different and at the Contented Dementia Trust, we call this ‘SPECAL sense’. "SPECAL sense is needed by everyone coming into contact with the person with dementia: it enables them to ensure that the person with dementia can lead a life that is as close as possible to the sort of life they would have lived had they not developed the condition.” Penny Garner, Founder of SPECAL and the Contented Dementia Trust. #dementiacare #SPECALsense #understandingalzheimers #dementiacaresupport #doingdementiadifferently #helpfordementiacarers #contenteddementia

🌞 SHEDDING LIGHT ON DEMENTIA CARE REALITIES 🌞 BREAKING NEWS: The report titled "Reparations for people with dementia in aged care" has arrived, unveiling a sobering look at dementia care. This research, presented by dedicated academics Kate Swaffer & Linda Steele, delves deep into the often-overlooked side of residential care for individuals living with dementia.   In their case study, these researchers highlight the pressing need for reparations to address the wrongs faced by people with dementia—similar to how society acknowledges other forms of exploitation, like that of children.   This report reveals the harsh realities of residential care. We call Kate and Linda heroes because they fearlessly confront the raw side of the issue and stand up to injustice in their quest for reparations.   Confronting this topic is tough, but it's time to open up the conversation. Let's raise awareness and work together to make a change. Let's get started!   FINAL REPORT: https://lnkd.in/e-rSGhy9 EASY READ REPORT:  https://lnkd.in/e2X_BH8D

According to the 2019 World Alzheimer Report, "Over 85% of respondents living with dementia stated that their opinion had not been taken seriously." When working with individuals living with dementia, it's essential to make them feel included as a part of their own care and to coordinate their own lives. Aside from the seriousness aspect, these insights among others, compound into a societal stigma and can be broken up into a myriad of different factors, including these four: 🔸Power: The person with dementia loses their power and autonomy 🔸Stereotypes: One person with dementia is just like everyone else 🔸Prejudice: This includes "fear, disgust, and shame." 🔸Discrimination: This means choosing to ignore or avoid a person living with dementia The first step away from contributing to or giving into the stigma is by spreading awareness of dementia, distributing correct information about dementia, and sharing positively themed literature and media about dementia care. Visit our website for more information and to learn how we can help you. https://lnkd.in/eW-ukjfc #DementiaAwareness #CaringForSeniors #RightAtHomeOfEssexCounty #SeniorCare

🌟 Building a Brighter Future for Dementia Care 🌟 As we continue to grow our vision of improving the quality of life and care for people with dementia, our team recently came together for a brainstorming session to explore what’s truly best for people with dementia and their carers. We recognise that carers play a vital role in this journey—facing challenges every day—so it’s important to support them as well. Carers often experience stress, fatigue, and emotional strain, and it's crucial they are part of any solution we create. Together, we can develop innovative approaches to care, ensuring that both individuals with dementia and their carers receive the support they need. ✨ If you have lived experience of dementia, we invite you to follow us. Soon, we’ll be launching research to discover what engineers, designers, developers, and researchers can do to improve care for people with dementia and their carers. Let’s work together to find the best way forward. #DementiaCare #CarerSupport #CommunityMatters #SupersenseTech #InnovationInCare #BrainHealth

What are the top 3 action items Dementia Friends have committed to at recent information sessions? Check out our recent article to find out! https://lnkd.in/gJkcPSxi #dementiafriendswa #dementiafriends #dementiaawareness