Alzheimer's Society Innovation Hub

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COVID-19 and dementia - your challenges

29 Ideas
201 Votes
141 Comments
92 Subscribers

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has affected everyone's lives in ways we never expected. We know that for people affected by dementia it is especially challenging. 

This new situation requires new solutions, and it needs them soon. 

Use this space to tell us the challenges that people living with dementia and their carers are facing right now. Comment on other people's suggestions and vote on which ones are most important to you. The Alzheimer's Society Innovation team will then find the best ways to address them.

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  1. Jennifer Bute
    Jennifer Bute
    127 pts
  2. Margaret Booth
    Margaret Booth
    119 pts
  3. Matthew Harrison
    Matthew Harrison
    115 pts
  4. Mark Vallance
    Mark Vallance
    99 pts
  5. Chris Maddocks
    Chris Maddocks
    84 pts

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Emergency alarms failing people who live alone

People living alone are at risk of having accidents/falls and not being found or not being able to get help- this is all the more pertinent with people being isolated at home due to Covid-19 social distancing/shielding guidelines. Emergency pendant alarms can help with this in some cases, but people often forget to wear them or forget to press the button when they need help. I wondered if having voice-activated alert systems might be more appropriate for many people who may instinctively...

8 Votes
8

App for Alzheimers dementia

Can we have an app that; 1.sits in patients waiting rooms for family members to fill in about behaviours for a person so it helps us to build a picture of where a person is on their journey and assist GP as to whether BPSD needs medical input.  2. is available on a phone so that family members can self troubleshoot by answering questions on a probability chart so they know what they need to ask for. Sometimes family members feel overwhelmed and they struggle to ask for what they need so...

3 Votes
3
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Nana needs you!

This challenge is posted on behalf of Lorraine king: I was just going to propose that we develop an info pack/training portal for young people how to engage their parents/grandparents and meaningfully tackle the spectre of technology, the internet etc. The image I had was just as the parent/grand-parent takes the young one by the hand to school, now it may be the turn of the younger to lead the older into this brave new world of tech. My point is that people can learn, but it takes...

3 Votes
2
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How is dad really?

Hello, I'm a new member.  My father lives in a wonderful Care Home, with marvellous Care Assistants who we regard as extended family.  It's not all rosy but everyone will be familiar with the challenges having a loved one in care brings.    Dad's home is part of a large National organisation so making recommendations or suggesting new ideas is extremely difficult. There appears to be a policy to follow for just about everything.  In the 3 months leading up to the outbreak mum and I...

6 Votes
9
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I want to go out!

Just put phone down to a carer who is struggling to cope with husband during the Co-Vid 19 period.   They are not always going out but husband who has dementia is agitated because he hasn't seen anybody - they normally have a few visitors.  Neighbours are doing the shopping for them and leaving it on the doorstep.  The couple are in their late 80's so not IT savy.  He has his coat on waiting at the front door and is not interested in the back door or the garden.   She has tried distraction...

6 Votes
2
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UK Meeting Centres: Creative in Quarantine

The UK Meeting Centres deliver support for people living with mild-to-moderate dementia and their families, helping them to cope with the transitions that dementia brings. Current guidance on minimising coronavirus transmission has led to UK Dementia Meeting Centres being suspended, with members following social distancing measures. Supersum, in partnership with the Meeting Centres are launching a call for bold new ways of helping their members stay creative and connected during social...

7 Votes
3
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Disorienting experiences in care homes

My Grandma lives in a care home and has mild-moderate dementia. Because of coronavirus, the staff must all be dressed in full PPE. This means she cannot see their faces and so does not recognise the people around her. Being surrounded by people in such strange outfits must be very scary. Residents are also being confined to her room and only being allowed into the common areas in shifts. This prevents grandma from socialising with her friends, which is what she enjoys most. Although I...

10 Votes
5
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An online community centre to address isolation

One challenge for people living with dementia during the COVID crisis is that they are isolated and disconnected from their usual friends, family and carers. Many people living with dementia also struggle to use modern technologies and devices that the rest of the population are using to connect with each other online at this time. Isolation and loneliness can be mitigated through video calls (realtime person-to-person contact). Video allows a deeper communication with family, friends and...

7 Votes
14
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Losing key abilities

Lots of people with dementia are afraid that being stuck in the house with limited social interaction and lack of opportunity to continue practicing existing skills (such as getting the bus independently) will mean they lose these skill by the end of coronavirus. Emphasis on losing ability to speak.

4 Votes
4

Keeping my parents safe

As mum is not so advanced with her Alzheimer's so  I am still working a few hours a week.  I work in the supermarket industry so the company is classed as an essential workers.  My dad who has vascular dementia, chronic heart failure & stage 3 kidney failure is 88 years old.  Mum who has COPD as well as Alzheimer's is 85 years old.  The NHS never contacted us to confirm self isolation so I am left not able to work as I cannot risk bring home the virus to them as they are so vulnerable...

3 Votes
11