Deniz Hepdogan at BRIDGES for Dementia Network+ Launch

Please describe the event you attended.

In February, I attended the launch event for the BRIDGES for Dementia Network+, an interdisciplinary initiative that brings together people with lived experiences of dementia, researchers, designers, community partners, and health professionals to explore how new technologies can better support people with lived experiences of dementia to live independently and maintain quality of life. The network places a strong emphasis on co-design and inclusive research practices.

The event opened with a panel discussion featuring people with lived experiences of dementia, which highlighted the importance of involving them at every stage of research and innovation. This was followed by a wide range of presentations from researchers and practitioners showcasing ongoing projects and future research directions. Key themes introduced during the event included indoor and outdoor spaces; arts, sports and culture; in-person and online communication; and digital technology development and translation. At the end, there was an opportunity to interact with some of the technologies being developed

What drew you to attend this event?

The network’s interdisciplinary focus and its emphasis on co-designing technologies with, rather than for, people living with dementia made this event important for me to attend and get to know this network. The network aligns closely with my interest in music technologies and in how digital tools can be designed to support the social wellbeing of individuals. The opportunity to hear directly from people with lived experience about their technology uses, and what they expect from researchers while contributing to research projects made the event also particularly valuable.

How was your experience attending the event? What were the highlights and key moments?

The event was highly insightful and engaging, particularly due to the emphasis on lived experience throughout the programme. The key highlight for me was the panel featuring people with lived experiences, which provided a perspective on the realities of living with the dementia. I also found it fruitful to learn how actively people with lived experiences are involved in contributing to research projects, as well as their own perspectives on participating in and shaping these initiatives. Another important theme that stood out was their critical perspective on technology. Rather than presenting technology as a pure replacement for human touchpoints in care, there was a strong emphasis on how it should complement and enhance them.

How was this event relevant to your research, interdisciplinarity and the ACRC Academy? 

This event was directly relevant to my PhD research, which focuses on the co-design of music listening technologies with and for care home residents. The launch of this network reinforces the importance and timeliness of developing technologies that support quality of life and social wellbeing of older people, with an emphasis on participatory research approach. Therefore, I simply had to be there! The emphasis on collaboration, inclusivity, and lived experience reflects the values I am continuing to develop through my work within the ACRC Academy. It was also motivating to see the growth of interdisciplinary networks across the UK.
 

Any lessons learnt / best practices that you’d like to share?

One key lesson from the event is the importance of including care partners alongside people living with dementia. Supporting both people living with dementia and their care partners helps maintain a more compassionate approach to care, and acknowledges the relationships that are central to everyday life.
Another important takeaway is the value of not viewing dementia only through a medical lens. Instead, it is important to hold a more holistic understanding of wellbeing that also includes social and emotional aspects such as dignity, independence, identity, and connections with others.
In relation to technology development, it is also important to recognise that people will have different levels of confidence and experience with digital tools. Creating spaces where individuals can explore and become familiar with technologies first can help ensure that research and technological developments feel more meaningful to the people they are intended to support.

You can find more about the BRIDGES for Dementia Network+ at the link below: