Dementia care
Specialist training in dementia and delirium, and in seeing the person first.
Why it matters
Technology that meets people where they are
AI is learning to talk, to remember and to help. People living with dementia need it to do all three, gently.
MyMindHaven brings an Occupational Therapist's eye to new ideas: how a person really uses a space, a screen or a voice, and what makes it feel safe.
Who's behind MyMindHaven
An Occupational Therapist's eye
Every activity, plan and review is created by an Occupational Therapist registered with the HCPC, who works in dementia care day to day.
Sensory inclusion
Sensory Inclusion Facilitator Certificate (SIE UK), for calmer, more welcoming spaces.
Technology and design
Postgraduate study in electronic assistive technology, and training in housing adaptations.
Staying currentKeeping up to date with dementia guidance, legislation and new research, so the work reflects what's known now.
Reading list
The research behind the work
Key papers by theme, each with one plain line on why it matters.
Dementia environmental design
- Long-term care for people with dementia: environmental design guidelinesFleming and Purandare, International Psychogeriatrics, 2010Turns the research into clear design principles for care settings.
- Impact of the design of the built environment on people with dementia: an evidence-based reviewMarquardt, Bueter and Motzek, HERD, 2014A wide review of what changes in a building actually help.
- Is your care home dementia friendly? EHE environmental assessment toolThe King's Fund, 2014A practical checklist many care homes already use.
From research to practiceEnvironments reviews are built on these principles.
Sensory approaches in dementia
- Sensory stimulation for persons with dementia: a review of the literatureStrøm, Ytrehus and Grov, Journal of Clinical Nursing, 2016What the evidence says about touch, sound, smell and sight.
- Snoezelen for dementiaChung and Lai, Cochrane review, 2002An honest look at multisensory rooms and their limits.
- Sensory approaches in inpatient psychiatric settingsChampagne and Stromberg, Journal of Psychosocial Nursing, 2004The occupational therapy roots of sensory approaches.
From research to practiceThe weekly sensory session is built on these ideas, kept simple for any member of staff.
Design and changed behaviour
- Environmental correlates to behavioral health outcomes in Alzheimer's special care unitsZeisel and colleagues, The Gerontologist, 2003Links features of a building to agitation, aggression and withdrawal.
- The influence of the physical environment on residents with dementia in long-term care settingsChaudhury and colleagues, The Gerontologist, 2018A recent review of how surroundings shape behaviour and wellbeing.
From research to practiceWhen distress rises, look at the room before the person: noise, light and crowding first.
Light and the daily rhythm
- Effect of bright light and melatonin on cognitive and noncognitive function in elderly residents of group care facilitiesRiemersma-van der Lek and colleagues, JAMA, 2008Brighter daytime light in care homes and its effect on mood and sleep.
From research to practiceDaylight and a steady daily rhythm are part of every review.
Partner with me
For tech companies and researchers
What an Occupational Therapist brings that engineers often can't.
Clinical design
Shaping products around how dementia affects memory, senses and movement.
Evaluation planning
Advising how to test with real routines, not just in the lab.
Involving people
Advising how to include people living with dementia and their families, respectfully.
Safety review
Spotting where something could confuse, frighten or exclude.
What's next
Ideas in development
Early-stage projects, now in development.
Calm spaces
A space of calm and connection in any care setting.
Register interestPersonal care
A new idea to help everyday personal care feel calmer, safer and more dignified.
Register interest