Realising the potential of people living with dementia through co-designing and making interventions

Abstract

The UK has an ageing population where there are now more people aged over 65 than those under the age of 16. The impact of this creates increased pressures on the National Health Service (NHS), and on local and regional health and social care services. Key concerns in regards to this aging population include the prevalence of the five most common chronic conditions among the over 65s—arthritis, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and dementia—with the latter expected to increase 25% by 2020 and more than 50% by 2050. In order to counteract the increasing pressures of aging health and mental healthcare issues current government policy aims to encourage people to remain active, engage in regular exercise and refrain from behaviours that could have a detrimental effect on their health. The research, presented here, focuses on developing and implementing innovative design interventions, that seek to encourage people to remain active, promote dignity, and encourage independence particularly for people living with dementia.