Sarah Kate Smith

The University of Manchester · NIHR-ARC-GM Healthy Ageing Theme

The purpose of this study was to explore Chinese older adults’ experiences of using digital health interventions and their perspectives of a digital falls prevention program (KOKU), to explore acceptability for its use in their daily life. Participants’ needs and preferences will be incorporated into the existing KOKU digital program to improve use...

Accepted methods of enquiry to address qualitative research questions are focus groups and interviews, enabling access to the experiences, opinions, and perspectives of participants. However use of these methods with people with dementia is problematic because this condition can impair verbal communication in addition to other domains. These challe...

Policy continues to emphasise the importance of wellbeing in dementia. However, there is a vital need for psychosocial interventions that can promote positive outcomes to enhance “living well with dementia”. Our developing understanding of what people living with dementia report as being important to them, has resulted in new interpretations of wha...

Implementing information and communications technology (ICT) at scale requires evaluation processes to capture the impact on users as well as the infrastructure into which it is being introduced. For older adults living with cognitive impairment, this requires evaluation that can accommodate different levels of cognitive impairment, alongside input...

Informal care partners of individuals with dementia are often referred to as the ‘invisible patient’, whose needs are under-represented in research. The physical, mental and emotional responsibilities of caring for someone with dementia can be both rewarding and challenging. This qualitative study explored how attending a dementia cafe affected car...

Including the views and experiences of people living with dementia in research and wider decision making is vital. The impact for the subjective wellbeing of its members of an approach known as The Dementia Associate Panel (DAP) is explored. The panel, based on a social citizenship model, aimed to provide a platform to work with and hear the voices...

Dementia friendly (DF) is a term that has been increasingly used in the international literature to describe approaches that include and involve people living with dementia within their communities and wider society. How to support the involvement of people living with dementia to achieve dementia friendly care or support outcomes is an area that h...

Those diagnosed with dementia and those who provide care and support often feel socially isolated with limited opportunities for social engagement, increasing the potential for loneliness and further isolation that is detrimental to social health. This study examined how a co‐designed dementia café impacted on the self‐reported social health of com...

Background Research suggests there is a lack of post-diagnostic support to enable people living with dementia to fulfil social and active lives throughout their dementia journey. Gardening has been found to have many benefits for people living with dementia. Although such research is important, most research frames people with dementia as passive r...

Evidence exists relating to music‐based initiatives and positive health outcomes for people living with dementia who can access them. Yet, knowledge about the impact of ‘music‐making’ on the well‐being of community‐dwelling people with dementia is limited. Much of the existing evidence about the benefits of music is focused on care home settings wh...

Background : Music-based initiatives cover a wide range of activity, including music therapy in either an individual or group capacity, choirs, orchestral performances, and apps on digital technology enabling people to engage with individual playlists. The impact of live music performances on the wellbeing of people living with dementia in the comm...

Introduction Opportunities to participate with enjoyable activities is one of the most frequently reported unmet needs by the person living with dementia. Enabling and intuitive technologies may offer accessible ways to engage with such activities. Objectives To explore how tablet computers might encourage participation in enjoyable activities by p...

Introduction Group-based cognitive stimulation is the only nonpharmacologic intervention recommended by the UK National Institute for Clinical and Health Excellence for people with dementia. The potential of technology to extend the availability of group-based cognitive stimulation has not been tested. Methods One hundred sixty-one people with dem...

In this paper, we present the European H2020 project INLIFE (INdependent LIving support Functions for the Elderly). The project brought together 20 partners from nine countries with the goal of integrating into a common ICT platform a range of technologies intended to assist community-dwelling older people with cognitive impairment. The majority of...

Computer Interactive Reminiscence and Conversation Aid (CIRCA)is an interactive conversation support for people living with dementia. CIRCA facilitates one-to-one conversations and caregiving relationships in formal care environments. Originally developed as a standalone device, a new web-based version of CIRCA has been created to increase availabi...

Independent Living Functions for the Elderly (IN-LIFE) is a 3 year multidisciplinary, multi-site European project that aims to prolong and support independent living for people with cognitive impairments, through (ICT) services. Sheffield is one of six research sites and is focused on enhancing communication and conversations using touch screen com...

Independent Living Functions for the Elderly (IN-LIFE) is a 3 year multidisciplinary, multisite European project that aims to prolong and support independent living for people with cognitive impairments, through (ICT) services. Sheffield is one of six research sites and is focused on enhancing communication and conversations using touch screen comp...

Objectives: To understand the perceived benefits and drawbacks of a mild cognitive impairment (MCI) diagnosis from the perspective of those living with the label. Methods: Participants were included if they had recently (within 6 months) received a MCI diagnosis. We also recruited close family members to gain their perspectives. Each was intervi...

Challenges were encountered when attempting to analyse video based data during a project exploring touch screen computer technology with people living with dementia. In order to inform the analytic process, a scoping review of published evidence was undertaken. Results of the scope illustrated the use of various techniques when analysing visual dat...

The potential of developing new technologies that may assist people living with dementia to successfully navigate their day is increasingly recognised. Interventions include prompts and reminders to support memory function as well as safety detectors and activity monitors. Few however, have recognised the potential of using existing technologie...

Methodological complexities involved when using visual methods in dementia research Sarah Kate Smith & Gail Ann Mountain, School of Health & Related Research (ScHaRR), University of Sheffield In our study of the subjective experiences of older people with dementia when interacting with others and with technology, we have used video recording as...

This review article is concerned with the potential of technology for improving outcomes for people with dementia by increasing quality of life, extending residence at home and reducing the burden of informal caregivers. Traditionally, research has focused on assistive technologies that can address issues of safety and security as well as providing...

This review article is concerned with the potential of technology for improving outcomes for people with dementia by increasing quality of life, extending residence at home and reducing the burden of informal caregivers. Traditionally, research has focused on assistive technologies that can address issues of safety and security as well as providing...