The event was run by the Applied Cognition, Technology & Interaction Group (ACTInG) at Loughborough University with our partner Mencap and other 3rd sector organisations, bringing together researchers from across the Midlands (and beyond) for a series of themed research sandpits between focused on the inclusion, well-being, and autonomy of people living with cognitive impairments and learning disabilities. These events built on the success of our initial ACTInG research networking day in July 2021.
This event was the third in a series of three themed events which included keynotes, panels, short talks, poster presentations, and research sandpit discussions. The theme for January is: “The challenging behaviours’”. The goal of the sandpit is to produce new interdisciplinary collaborations and project proposals that led to the production of one or more large project bids within the framework—and with the support of—the Midlands Innovation Inclusive Transformation programme.
Tickets You can sign up for this FREE event here.
We look forward to seeing you virtually or in person soon!
Programme for the day:
- 12:00-12:20 – Welcome and Introduction to the day, recap of our events so far.
- 12:25-13:05 – Keynote talk: Prof. Tom Dening – Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia: how can technology help?
- Author bio: Tom Dening is Professor of Dementia Research, University of Nottingham; and Honorary Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
- Abstract: Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia is a term that has been in use for about 25 years. BPSD refers to the non-cognitive elements of dementia, and is therefore a very mixed group of phenomena, including (for example) depression, psychotic symptoms, apathy, agitation, sleep and eating problems. This presentation will discuss the use of BPSD and the importance of these non-cognitive features. BPSD are common in all forms of dementia and tend to increase as dementia progresses. They are important determinants of outcomes, including dementia progression, mortality, admission to long-term care, and carer stress.
- Technology spans a wide range of items, systems and approaches that affect all our lives. It needs to be borne in mind that not everything is IT. Technology has different applications in dementia, especially according to the stage of the condition and also reflecting the needs of individuals. A lot of currently available technology is aimed at memory and cognitive problems, less so at behaviour and emotional needs. Important issues include how to support people with dementia using mainstream technology, and also how to increase emphasis on good design, usability and effectiveness of any new products.
- 13:10-13:25 – Ahmad Aladawi – Indoor Environmental Design for a Dementia-Friendly Home using smart Internet of Things Technologies.
- Author bio: Ahmad Aladawi is a technology creator for people with special needs. He is currently in the second year of his PhD study at Loughborough University, based in the School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering. Ahmad has a computer science background and a distinction master’s degree in the Internet of Things (IoT). He is interested in creating technologies for people with special needs, including people with dementia.
- Abstract: People with dementia and their caregivers have different thermal perceptions. Ahmad will highlight these differences and compare the optimal indoor quality parameters (indoor temperature, relative humidity, CO2 level and airspeed level) for people with dementia and their caregivers. This will help design an optimal indoor environment that provides the optimal thermal comfort for both PwD and their caregivers.
- 13:30-13:40 – Break
- 13:40-13:55 – Lauren Bridgstock – Is ‘elderspeak’ always inappropriate? An empirical investigation of the use of elderspeak in dementia care.
- Author bio: Lauren Bridgstock is currently in the second year of her PhD study at the University of Nottingham, based in the school of School of Sociology and Social Policy. She previously attended the University of Central Lancashire and completed a BSc and MSc in Forensic Psychology. Current research interests include dementia, healthcare, and conversation analysis.
- Abstract: Elderspeak is a type of communication often used towards older people, particularly those living with dementia. It involves features such as high tone/pitch, simplified sentences/grammar, and terms of endearment. There is mixed evidence regarding how people may receive and respond to elderspeak. Some research suggests that it may be considered inappropriate and so may lead to negative reactions. Other research suggests that some individuals could perceive it as positive (e.g., if it appears more friendly, or aids task completion in care). It is likely that these perceptions may be influenced by the context of the situation. My project aims to establish where and when elderspeak is used towards people living with dementia (PLWD) in acute hospital settings (where communication is known to be difficult between healthcare staff and PLWD). It will then aim to establish how different contexts influence the reactions of PLWD. These aims will be accomplished by analysing video data of participants using conversation analysis, a method which examines real-life interactions in extreme detail. This information will contribute to the empirical literature and may aid the development of future training resources, leading to improvements in the quality of care given to PLWD in hospitals environments.
- 14:00-14:25 – Prof. Eef Hogervorst: Persona versus Personalised: designing for and with people with dementia.
- Loughborough researchers developed dementia persona to guide designers and architects and provide more insight in dementia progression and variability of needs between and within people living with dementia. These persona were employed when developing various living spaces in the Chris and Sally dementia friendly house in Watford. We are currently working with various stakeholders to evaluate persona developed from a care provider perspective, to provide more insight in design needs for people who present with challenging behaviours or the so called Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms associated with Dementia (BPSD). Persona are templates used to showcase particular features common to groups of people. As such they could perhaps be seen as radically opposed to a person-centred approach which has been found to reduce unmet needs, or BPSD. In this talk we discuss various approaches to design for people with dementia with a focus on these unmet needs using bottom-up approach alternative.
- 14:30-15:10 – Panel discussion: Interactional approaches to researching unmet needs in people living with dementia
- Following from the previous talks and the problems raised by Eef’s talk about the person-centredness (or lack thereof) of design approaches, this panel will discuss how interactional approaches (conversation analysis and membership categorisation analysis) can be utilised to combat some of the issues of these other approaches. Time will be given to the constraints to which care systems are under to provide care which is both suitable for all, and tailored to the individual.
- Panel members: Dr. Saul Albert, Lauren Hall, Lauren Bridgstock and Felicity Slocombe.
- 15:10-15:30 – Break
- 15:30-16:30 – Presentation of project ideas
- During the past month the ACTInG group have been coming up with ideas for projects we will apply for funding for. We would like to share our ideas with you and get your feedback and insights.
- Around 6 ideas will be presented with the view to taking up to 3 ideas forward for funding application. Ideas will be presented in 5 minutes with 5 minutes after for questions and discussion.
- 16:30 -16:50 – Zac Taylor – Director of Quality and Practice at Mencap.
- 16:50-17:00 – Event close and thank yous.
