Design and Dementia

06/03/2026

Sheffield has become one of the first places in the UK to boost access to dementia research!

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the first sites to recruit a dementia research nurse, with up to 20 sites across the UK expected to be set up over the next few years.

Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer, and one in three people born today will develop the condition in their lifetime. Despite the urgent need to find new ways to diagnose and treat it, dementia research currently lags far behind other conditions

That’s why we’ve invested £3 million to embed dedicated dementia research nurses within the UK Dementia Trials Network across the UK.

The research nurses will guide people throughout their journey taking part in dementia research, helping more people to take part, and giving the power back to people living with dementia.

We know people living with dementia are keen to take part in research and find it incredibly rewarding, but so few are offered the opportunity.

We urgently need to expand the number of clinical trials available, with our research nurses increasing visibility and access to opportunities so that more people living with dementia from all backgrounds can take part.

Headline via BBC News

06/03/2026

Written by prof. Richard Fleming and delivered using AI, this presentation explains how the places we live in, visit, and use every day can support people wh...

06/03/2026

🌿 What happens when therapy moves outside?

Imagine doing art therapy in the sunshine, listening to music beside a kitchen garden, or mindfully watching birds and bees with someone you love, not in a clinic, but in a beautiful public park.

That's exactly what the Living Well with Dementia project explored at the 5 senses garden. The results were powerful:
🌸 People felt calmer, happier and more rested
💤 Carers noticed reduced agitation and better sleep
🤝 Couples and families reconnected beyond care tasks, sharing moments of joy, not just responsibility
🏘️ Participants felt like valued community members, not patients
And the design of the space made it possible, level paths, accessible amenities, rich planting, and a welcoming non-clinical atmosphere.

💡 The message is clear, public greenspaces aren't just scenery. With the right design and programme, they can be places where people feel safe, included and live well.

👉 Read the full article here:
🔗 https://design.dementia.utas.edu.au/page/569

02/03/2026

Some key things to consider when ageing in place, in this latest talk organised by the Island of Ideas at the University of Tasmania.

20/02/2026

🧠 This article invites an important conversation about technology and dementia 🌍

People living with dementia are too often impacted by systems and technologies that are not designed with their needs in mind. This thoughtful piece highlights why technology should support people first not the other way around. From banking and transport to everyday digital tools design decisions can either enable independence dignity and connection or unintentionally create barriers 📱💙https://design.dementia.utas.edu.au/index.php?AP=news&ACT=view_news&news_id=567
Wicking Dementia Centre

13/02/2026

What living in a multigenerational home with one of your parents is really like https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-13/multigenerational-home-grand-designs-transformations-reality/106331396

Kay and her daughter, Cat, moved back in together a year ago — along with Cat's husband and their three kids. This is the reality of what it's like living with three generations under one roof.

12/02/2026

💦 Bathrooms in care homes are often treated as back‑of‑house infrastructure, yet they are where some of the most intimate, and distressing, moments of care happen. So what would these spaces look like if they were truly designed around residents’ comfort, dignity, and cognitive needs?
Read https://design.dementia.utas.edu.au/index.php?AP=news&ACT=view_news&news_id=565

Wicking Dementia Centre

29/01/2026

29/01/2026

We’re almost at the finish line! Our dementia-inclusive design survey closes on 31 January 2026. If you’ve started but haven’t clicked ‘submit’ yet, there are still a few days left to finish and send in your responses. If you haven’t had a chance to take part but would like to, you can still complete the survey any time before 31 January 2026.

Thank you so much to everyone who has taken part so far, your input is incredibly valuable and greatly appreciated and we will be in touch via email at the end of February for the second part of the survey.

Are you passionate about dementia care and environmental design?
We're seeking participants for a study on dementia-inclusive environments. Please note that this study is online.

What's Involved?
As a participant, you'll have the opportunity to:
• Contribute your valuable perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in environmental design and dementia care.
• Help us evaluate how information is delivered, and educational resources are designed.

Who We're Looking For:
• People who are 18 years of age and above
• People who are passionate about dementia-inclusive environments
• People who are comfortable with using digital tools and online platforms and would like to contribute to a study on dementia inclusive environments.

If you're interested and would like to be a participant, please contact Dr Joanna Sun via📧 email at designanddementia@utas.edu.au or participate in the survey here 🔗https://redcap.link/67ft1mi9.

23/01/2026

Through eight interactive webinars, learn how small design choices can make a big difference — supporting person-centred, dementia-inclusive care environments across Australia.

20/01/2026

🧠💡🔊 Read “Agitation: Research Shows Light and Sound Matter More Than We Thought” to explore what the latest evidence means for practice, and how small tweaks might make a big difference. https://design.dementia.utas.edu.au/index.php?AP=news&ACT=view_news&news_id=563

16/01/2026

🏡 Have you seen our Resource Hub?
It features a collection of real-life examples and current research on dementia‑inclusive and enabling home environments, showcasing practical design approaches that support independence, safety, and quality of life at home.

Explore ideas that make a real difference 👉
https://design.dementia.utas.edu.au/page/512/for-educators

💡 Do you have a project to share? We’d love to hear from you!
📧 designanddementia@utas.edu.au