One in three of us who live to 65 will have some form of dementia before we die.
The Department of Health and the Design Council looked to create innovations to make living well with dementia a reality.
Challenge call to action video
Watch the Living well with dementia film on Vimeo.
The challenge called for teams to help people with dementia and their carers live easier, better planned and more enjoyable lives. If you would like to find out the details about what the challenge entailed you can look at the online community: www.designchallenges.ning.com.
The Final Five
After many great applications, and a long and hard judging process , 5 teams have been awarded funding to develop their ideas. They will have 20 weeks to develop working prototypes of thier ideas to showcase in early April 2012.
A brief description of each team and their idea can be found below.
IDEA: Dogs for people with early stage dementia- developing a service that explores the potential of trained dogs in a dementia situation to help maintain independence, dignity, companionship and joy
TEAM: Alzheimer Scotland, Glasgow School of Art (product design) + Dogs for the Disabled
IDEA: A permanently worn discreet wristband to aid dementia sufferers. The product will provide user identification, personal monitoring and emergency alert functionalities via 3D accelerometers and RFID, and will enhance the current buddi telecare system.
TEAM: Buddi + Sebastian Conran associates
IDEA: A web and mobile-based service for carers of people with dementia to help them find work that can be delivered on a time and location flexible basis. This will enable carers to supplement their income and protect their savings whilst also enabling them to stay within the world of work.
TEAM: CREO Strategic Solutions, A+B Studio, FLY Design, FeedHenry
IDEA: The Scent Clock’ – a home scent-device to stimulate appetite and enhance nutritional status in dementia. The device will look to increase the likelihood of eating, reducing the issues of weight loss, dehydration, fatigue and malnutrition that people with dementia experience.
TEAM: Rodd Design, The Olfactory Experience, Gwen Coleman + Crossmodal Research Lab, University of Oxford
IDEA: ‘Grouple’ – a collaborative caring and sharing tool which enable the family to support their relative through easier, accessible communication. Applicable from the point of diagnosis, Grouple will provide online and physical tools to facilitate co-ordinated support. TEAM: Studiohead, BT Innovate & Design, Louise Wilson, Ifung Lu, Meike Walcha + Jewish Care