Media vs Dementia

Michael is fundraising for Media vs Dementia, in memory of his wife, Tricia, who passed away with dementia in her care home on Friday 7 October 2022.

While staying with and visiting Tricia in her care home, Michael was struck by the fact that even good homes offered no access to the kinds of media which might, however briefly, entertain and provide a stimulus to residents like Tricia. He used his tablet to play her some favourite tv programmes and music videos. She was particularly fond of ‘You'll Never Walk Alone’, sung by Michael Ball and the centenarian Capt Tom Moore, with the NHS choir. When he was no longer with her, though, the television in her room could only play a free satellite service, which offered dozens of channels that were better suited to international hotel guests. It had no facility to view 'favourites' and was operated by a remote control well beyond her already diminished cognitive abilities.

Michael decided to explore the reasons why more engaging media were not available to care home residents, especially those with dementia. In summer 2022, he hosted a seminar at the Hotel du Vin in Winchester, with some of the UK's leading researchers into neurodegenerative conditions, along with the BBC's archive, producers, technical entrepreneurs and care providers. The conclusion was unanimous: a service could and should be created, providing media that research had established could stimulate hidden cognitive powers, and that the technology of accessing the programmes should be simplified to enable residents to access and control the content. At this time, Tricia was given the opportunity to test equipment and programmes provided by the BBC, and to travel via virtual reality to Austrian mountain pastures and the Australian bush. Momentarily, memories came back to her, despite the fact that her Alzheimer's was now at the most advanced stage.

Michael is now determined to continue the campaign Media versus Dementia, which plans to launch three pilot schemes in early 2023. Your donation will help make this a reality.