Patient safety

TIHM for dementia: using technology to improve quality of life

Dr Helen Rostill, director of innovation and development at Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS FT, discusses the new Technology Integrated Health Management (TIHM) for dementia project.

We are one of only seven NHS trusts to be awarded a grant, managed by Innovate UK and overseen by NHS England, to carry out a groundbreaking project to provide people with dementia more control over their health and wellbeing.                                                                                                          

The project, called TIHM for dementia, is part of the NHS Innovation test beds: a series of different projects that aim to modernise healthcare to benefit older people with long-term health problems. The test bed programme is linked to the Five Year Forward View which launched 18 months ago and sets out how health services need to change in order to engage with patients, carers and citizens so that we can promote wellbeing and prevent ill-health. 

Only two trusts are specifically involved in an Internet of Things test bed, of which we are one. This is a really exciting opportunity to work alongside a series of partners to demonstrate how the use of network-enabled devices such as monitors, robotics and wearables have the potential to improve the quality of life for people with dementia and their carers. This research could lead to people with dementia remaining in their homes for longer – therefore reducing bed stays and care home admissions. 

Assisting future generations 

In the UK, there are an estimated 850,000 people living with a confirmed diagnosis of dementia and 400,000 people living with undiagnosed dementia. The innovative technologies being trialled as part of the TIHM for dementia test bed, which lasts two years, will be revolutionary in assisting future generations of people diagnosed with dementia to live better, placing our trust at the forefront of delivering fundamental change in dementia care. 

Predictions suggest that by 2025 over a million people in the UK will be living with dementia. Despite this, investment in dementia research is 6.4 times lower than cancer research. Therefore, TIHM for dementia is an excellent chance to improve the lives of people living with dementia and their families by using technology to help them live more independently. 

With a growing elderly population who are likely to experience long-term physical and mental health conditions, pioneering new technologies such as those we are trialling will help more people receive the support they need to live well in their own homes. It is also about improving responsiveness of the health and care system, providing support at an earlier stage and reducing the amount of time people spend in hospital. 

Health and technology partners 

Partners of the project are University of Surrey, Royal Holloway University of London, Kent Surrey Sussex Academic Health Science Network, the Alzheimer’s Society, six local CCGs (North East Hampshire & Farnham, Guildford and Waverley, North West Surrey, Surrey Downs, Surrey Heath, and East Surrey) and a number of charities. 

The project will also be made up of 10 technology companies, including: 

• Sense.ly, whose virtual, personal assistant Molly is capable of providing tailor-made medical advice using advanced AI and speech recognition
• Intelesant, whose product Howz is able to learn a dementia sufferer’s routine and thus detect any deviations from the routine that may lead to dangers
• Yecco, who provide platforms that facilitate rapid adoption of self-care skills and easy access to online communities, reducing social isolation 

The test bed will collect continuous monitoring and observation data which will be translated into a common language to provide real-time insights and alerts. This will allow healthcare staff to deliver more responsive and effective services and will support caregivers in making better and faster decisions.   

The project, which launched in May, will take results from approximately 700 people, more than 10% of those on the dementia register in Surrey. Recruitment activities for TIHM for dementia will start in June.

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