Anticipatory Care Tools (ACT)

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Our team is embarking on a project that aims to improve the lives of individuals living with dementia, their carers, and healthcare professionals. We are creating a digital anticipatory care tool (ACT). In simple terms, anticipatory care is a proactive approach, which helps us predict and respond to potential health issues before they become critical.Imagine a tool that could assist in predicting certain health changes or behaviors in people with dementia. Such a tool could help carers and healthcare professionals to intervene early, thereby avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions and clinical interventions. Not only could this save money, but it would also greatly enhance the quality of life for those living with dementia.At the heart of this initiative is Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST), a method that has demonstrable effects. It's already in use across 37 countries and has the endorsement of NICE in the UK. Our digital tool will complement CST by introducing anticipatory care into the mix, enabling care to be even more personalised and effective.As part of this project, we'll be conducting research, including studying the dynamics between healthcare facilitators and dementia patients in digital settings. We'll also be working hand-in-hand with experts from various organisations to ensure the tool we develop is appropriate and beneficial. The aim is to understand what works best for dementia patients and their carers, whether it's in a face-to-face meeting or in an online session.Once developed, the tool will be integrated into an existing CST app with Memory Matters and will also be available as a standalone web-based tool or through an API for integration into other care platforms. In the future we will explore the possibilities of using machine learning and advanced technologies to refine the tool further.The end goal is to empower carers and healthcare professionals with a tool that can help them provide better care for people living with dementia, reduce healthcare costs, and most importantly, improve the quality of life for these individuals.