A fascinating day chairing a workshop to kick start a project to help people with dementia keep their brains stimulated by combining tech with archive media. It‘s the brainchild of my old boss at Television South, Michael Blakstad. You may have heard him on the BBC Today programme during Covid lockdown detailing the pain of trying to visit his wife Tricia in a care home. 

I remember Tricia as a vibrant, intelligent and talented woman. Today she is living with advanced dementia. Michael, now 82, has had Parkinson’s for some years. It greatly affects his mobility but not his brain which is, as ever, razor sharp. At TVS we were well used to the torrent of ideas flowing from this one-time editor of Tomorrow’s World, often arriving in the early hours of the morning (Michael is a lifelong insomniac). Now, while suffering the distress of watching his wife’s decline, he’s turned his talents to improving the lives of people with dementia (PwD). 

I learned so much listening to so many experts. Professor Arlene Astell of Reading University explained that we all have a “reminiscence bump” usually between the ages of 15 and 30 when, going through many life changes, we form the bulk of our long-term memories. The BBC has a project called RemArc which makes archive material available free of charge.  Let’s say someone with dementia is aged 80. Their reminiscence bump would be between 1957 and 1972. Using tablet technology to deliver snippets of programming from the 60s triggers memories and conversation. Add contemporary music and film clips and it’s even more powerful.  Still photographs too, not necessarily personal. Pictures of random people on a beach trigger personal memories. We heard about My Life TV where they combine such material and stream it online. There is compelling evidence that such interventions are hugely therapeutic to both those with dementia and their connections. 

The BBC’s recently retired Technology Correspondent, the estimable Rory Cellan-Jones, himself living with Parkinson’s, steered us through the tech. We heard from a company which has tablet-based systems to help PwD communicate with remote loved ones. We saw a five buttoned remote control, greatly simplifying the task of navigating the screen. I haven’t got dementia (yet) and I am sure I could do with one of those at home now. 

Stumbling blocks? Decent broadband - many care home are remotely located and not a priority for BT Open (Out of?) Reach -  plus decent Wi-Fi throughout the home. Training hard-pressed care workers is an issue as is  the cost of the technology itself. 

Representatives of the care industry were there, including the remarkable Bea Chiyangwa Wardrobe who, having left Zimbabwe two decades ago, now runs her own care agency. She thought the concept a game changer and should be embraced by the care sector. 

Affordability is the key, and we were fortunate to have with us Professor Sir Muir Gray, an NHS “big beast" whose attitude to dementia is summed up by the title of one his books, “Sod 70 - the guide to living well.” He offered us valuable advice on navigating Whitehall to get government money behind the project as they fulfil (hopefully) their pledge to “sort out the care sector.” My old TVS colleague Peter Kinkead captured everything on video.

So, there’s plenty happening. What’s needed is for it all to be pulled together, which is what our day-long workshop was all about. At the end of the day, Michael Blakstad was understandably pretty tired. Two of his children, Matthew and Sofie, are firmly supporting Michael’s efforts.

As with over ninety percent of disability, dementia is acquired as life progresses. Hopefully, you and I are not yet People with Dementia, but sadly for many of us, it is coming.  We need to support The Winchester Project while we can. Like all altruism, it is in our long-term self-interest.

Khalid Aziz