Judges Q&A with Dawne Garrett

Meet the Judges: Dawne Garrett, Consultant Nurse, previously Lead for Older People & Dementia Care, Royal College of Nursing (RCN), UK

“My insight into supporting people with dementia comes mainly from my professional work with thousands of individuals and families. This has given me a wide and varied understanding of how dementia may impact an individual and their wider circle.

However, what it does not bring is the emotional rawness of supporting someone you love on this journey. Neither does professional interaction bring the sheer levels of fatigue or loneliness that many families living with dementia describe.” 

Why are you excited to be judging the Longitude Prize on Dementia?

Increased global awareness of dementia has engaged communities belonging to disciplines that previously had little involvement in supporting people living with dementia – ranging from people working in product design to artificial intelligence (AI).

This engagement of diverse groups and innovators has led to new knowledge and expertise in improving the lives of, and developing forms of assistance for, people living with dementia. I am delighted to be working with the other international judges to share knowledge and expertise in order to provide feedback on new creations.

There is great excitement in not knowing where the entries will take us and I look forward to working with colleagues to see what our brilliant innovators can design for the first time.

What experiences and insights will you be bringing to the judging process?

I bring insights from clinical healthcare practice, having worked with people living with dementia and their families for over 35 years.

My particular expertise will be in innovation for people who have complex needs, such as safeguarding requirements, and helping to understand the interplay of dementia with other health conditions, such as heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. I have a passion for accessibility of innovation for groups of people who may be overlooked such as the homeless, refugees and those experiencing domestic violence.

I am also a champion of environmental sustainability and would consider innovation not only in its intended form, but in the future-proofing of any product and potential impacts on the environment.

What difference do you think assistive technologies will make to people living with dementia?

At this stage I don’t know. The options are numerous and given the diversity of possible entries, I would like to be amazed and enchanted by the ideas. If I had to say anything, it would be that I hope the entries will improve independence for people living with dementia – not only for functional living but to help them live joyful and productive lives. Accessibility to the arts and spiritual enrichment is as important as supporting day-to-day living. If the technologies can engage family and friends as well, so much the better.

Have you seen an appetite for technology amongst people living with dementia? What do innovators need to take into consideration in designing for this audience?

There is a huge appetite for technology, amongst people living with dementia as much as everybody else, but we have to remember that dementia is predominantly an issue in older age. Innovators need to design with people living with dementia, not for themselves.

There will be some people developing dementia who still do not use technologies to their full extent and there will be assisted-technology innovators and programmers who themselves are living with dementia.

Technologies that can be tailored to individuals are important, as are those that can be adapted for sensory impairment. Cognitive issues mean new devices should be intuitive and draw on embedded skills.

Meet the full Judging Panel for the Longitude Prize on Dementia