Northern Ireland’s Health and Social Care board (HSC) is using technology to improve the understanding of dementia and support those with the condition.
A number of initiatives has been set up to help do this with funding under the eHealth and Data Analytics Dementia Pathfinder Programme.
One service is the new ‘apps4dementia’ online library, which hosts a selection of "trusted" apps that provide users with information and guidance on dementia. There are also apps with advice on self-care and how to carry on with day-to-day activities for as long as possible. As a start, users will find the 10 best rated apps that provide guidance and information to help with sleep, communication, keeping minds active, and reminders as well as apps that support carers to care for their loved ones.
The library has been developed alongside people living with dementia and their carers, as well as health professionals, who have provided feedback on design and content. It was developed in conjunction with app evaluator, ORCHA, which Lisa Simmons works for. She said: “With thousands of health apps available it can be confusing to choose the right ones. This new resource will allow users to find high quality, trusted apps to empower them to self-manage their condition, or assist carers and family members help keep their loved ones independent and improve their quality of life.”
(c) ORCHA on YouTube
The programme has also funded 12 research projects, including ‘Using computer science for analysis of language to predict dementia diagnosis from descriptive clinical text’ and ‘Data analytics regarding dementia in people with a Learning Disability in the Northern Trust’.
Speaking about the latter, Dr Sarah Bravey commented that “people with a learning disability, and particularly those who have Down’s syndrome, are at increased risk of developing dementia”.
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Her project “aims to gather information into accessible formats to allow planning for services, as well as examining the experience of the dementia journey, and also considering how the diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment might be useful for this group of people”.
Dan West, chief digital information officer at the Department of Health noted the “tremendous impact” that technology has had in modern life. He said: “By using the latest appropriate technologies, in partnership with patients, service users and carers, we can help empower people living with dementia and their families to be more active in their care.”
HSC has also recently initiated ‘encompass’, a plan to introduce a digital integrated health and care record to Northern Ireland using the latest technology. Dr Michael McBride, Northern Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer previously outlined the need for transformation so that health and social care services could meet the challenges of a 21st century population, which is living longer, in a safe and sustainable way. He said: “We want to see a new future in which people are supported to stay well in the first place and have access to safe, high quality care when they need it; staff are empowered and supported to perform their roles and people have access to their own health records and are supported to engage in their own care.”
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Find the full list of 2019 data analytics projects funded by the eHealth and Data Analytics Dementia Pathfinder Programme below. The initiative is part funded by the NI Executive Office, Atlantic Philanthropies and the Department of Health.
- A multidisciplinary, data analytics and public participatory approach to better understanding the risks of dementia in ageing
Dr Michaela Black, Ulster University
- Analysis of the Western Trust Memory Service data and the experience of people with dementia and caregivers accessing this service
Dr Gillian Mullan, Western Health and Social Care Trust
- Using computer science for analysis of language to predict dementia diagnosis from descriptive clinical text
Dr Barry Devereux, Queen’s University Belfast
- The implementation of the data management component, of the proposed dementia care pathway for learning disabaility in Northern Ireland
Dr Tony McGinn, Ulster University
- Understanding the outcome of Memory Service Assessments and the impact of CLEAR dementia care
Dr Frances Duffy, Northern Health and Social Care Trust
- Using data to find out what really matters to carers and people with mild cognitive impairment
Dr Paschal McKeown, Age NI
- Examining how mild cognitive impairment and cognitive decline occurs in older adults
Dr Sharon Cruise, Queen’s University Belfast
- Understanding how mild cognitive impairment transitions to dementia in older adults and their access to healthcare
Dr Sharon Cruise, Queen’s University Belfast
- Data analytics regarding dementia in people with a Learning Disability in the Northern Trust
Dr Sarah Bravey, Northern Health and Social Care Trust
- Development of an analytics program for dementia in Northern Ireland
Dr Bernadette McGuinness, Queen’s University Belfast
- Online decision support tool for accelerated diagnosis of dementia
Dr Ruth Price, Ulster University
- A spatial analysis of dementia, mild cognitive impairment and ageing for the understanding of future care provision within rural areas of Northern Ireland
Dr Gemma Catney, Queen’s University Belfast
