Care UK head of dementia supports sensory research

Company news

Oct 16, 2014

Maizie Mears-Owen, head of dementia at Care UK, is to present at this year’s Inside Out Festival on how multi-sensory stimulation and design can be delivered within dementia care.

Maizie has provided expertise and support for research by Dr Anke Jakob and Dr Lesley Collier, whose findings will be exhibited at the Inside Out Festival from Tuesday 21 to Saturday 25 October. The Sensory Rooms exhibition will demonstrate a new approach to designing and creating multisensory environments that would better suit the needs of people living with dementia in a care home setting.

As part of the research, Dr Anke Jakob visited a number of Care UK homes, including Appleby House, Heatherview and Highbury New Park. She also sought practical advice from Maizie Mears-Owen and Rose Elliot, a regional dementia specialist at Care UK, on issues such as specialist diets.

A guide book summarising the research results and comprising advice on how to construct a multi-sensory space, aimed at care professionals and policy makers, will be issued alongside the exhibition and panel discussion. 

The Design Interventions to Support Dementia Care presentation and panel discussion, featuring Maizie Mears-Owen, Dr Lesley Collier and Dr Anke Jakob, will take place at the Inside Out Festival on Friday 24 October from 2pm to 4pm.

Tours of the Sensory Rooms exhibition will take place at 11.30am and 2pm on Tuesday 21, Wednesday 22, Thursday 23 and Saturday 25 October, and at 1pm and 4pm on Friday 24 October.