Demographic changes and pressure on public finances are leading to radical changes in the statutory provision of assistive technology and mobility and disability equipment. Simple aids for daily living – such as walking sticks, mobility aids – are now increasingly appearing in a variety of existing and new channels. You only need to look in
To what extent do people with dementia, even advanced dementia, have the right to have control and choice over their own lives? This is the question raised by an experimental care facility in the Netherlands. In Hogeweg, everyone lives in the moment. As The Times reported on Saturday, the streets and squares of this experimental Dutch
A new walking and standing stick is about to be launched into the independent living sector by REthinkthings Ltd, a design led product brand led by Ilsa Parry who originally designed the product whilst being filmed for a BBC reality documentary. “Flo” moves away from “traditional “medical” aesthetics in its design and actively seeks to introduce
Can design improve the lives of people living with dementia? This is one of the questions posed by the latest Design Council Challenge. Last week, I went to the Design Council to see the winning projects which range from a dementia support dog to an appetite stimulator. As it is now predicted that as
Many of us caring for older parents will have at some stage to contemplate finding them a care home. Unless you can rely on some local knowledge or better still, a friend’s recommendation, this is not an easy task. Whilst the Care Quality Commission can provide a list of homes registered in your area and copies of their inspection
2012 is turning out to be a very busy year! As well as running my own "Designing for the Future" competition with the Faculty of Arts, University of Brighton, I have also been invited to judge the RSA Student Design Awards and in particular the Mine for Life category. The Mine for Life
I have just written a post for the Age UK blog, "Inclusive Design - luxury or "must have"", ahead of the Agenda for Later Life 2012 conference where I will be speaking about inclusive design. In these times of austerity, I think it is easy to dismiss design as a luxury. However,
Readers of this blog will know that I am a big fan of Eve, my friend now in her 90s, who is tackling getting older with considerable aplomb. This week I learnt of her latest project. Eve was speaking to a friend who runs a charity shop which had a great many donated jigsaws. Whilst the jigsaws were
I am really pleased to see Yours magazine today engaging its readers in the debate about design for all (and not just because I am quoted with lovely photos of our double handled teapot and mug!). Editor Valerie McConnell recounts her recent trip to her local gym where although pleasantly surprised by her results on
