MinD · Project

Design Tools That Help People With Dementia Stay Socially Connected

healthPrototypeTRL 4Thin data (2/5)

Imagine your parent has dementia and struggles to recognize faces or feel comfortable in busy places — they start avoiding people altogether, which makes everything worse. This project figured out how wearable devices and smarter room designs can help people with dementia feel more confident and in control during social situations. Think of it like noise-cancelling headphones, but for the overwhelming sensory and emotional challenges that come with dementia. A team of 19 partners across 9 countries built and tested personal and environmental design prototypes that care homes and families could actually use.

By the numbers

consortium partners involved in co-design

countries represented in the research consortium

SMEs participating in prototype development

total project deliverables produced

531,000

EUR in EU funding for design research

The business problem

What needed solving

Dementia affects millions of people who progressively lose the ability to engage socially — they struggle to recognize faces, manage emotions, and cope with busy environments. This withdrawal accelerates cognitive decline and dramatically increases care costs. Care providers and families currently have limited design-based tools to help maintain social engagement, relying almost entirely on medication and human supervision.

The solution

What was built

The project produced two sets of design prototypes: personal wearable designs (WP4) that help with identity perception and emotion management during social interactions, and environmental designs (WP5) that reduce sensory overload and promote feelings of control. Both are described as ready for implementation and testing. A total of 13 deliverables were produced including co-design methodologies and policy recommendations.

Audience

Who needs this

Care home operators and assisted living chains looking for non-pharmaceutical interventionsWearable health tech companies expanding into elderly and dementia careArchitecture and interior design firms specializing in healthcare environmentsMunicipal social services departments planning dementia-friendly communitiesDementia care training organizations seeking evidence-based design tools

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Senior Care & Assisted Living

any

Target: Care home operators and assisted living facility chains

If you are a care home operator dealing with residents who withdraw socially and decline faster as a result — this project developed environmental design prototypes that reduce information overload and help residents with dementia feel more in control. The designs were created with input from 19 partners including 5 industry organizations across 9 countries, giving them real-world grounding in care settings.

Wearable Health Technology

SME

Target: Wearable device manufacturers targeting elderly care

If you are a wearable tech company looking to expand into the dementia care market — this project developed personal, wearable design prototypes that help mediate perceptions of identity and manage emotions during social interactions. With 6 SMEs involved in the consortium, the prototypes were built with commercial viability in mind.

Interior & Environmental Design

mid-size

Target: Architecture and interior design firms specializing in healthcare spaces

If you are a design firm working on healthcare environments and struggling to create dementia-friendly spaces — this project produced tested environmental design models that reduce sensory overload and promote social engagement. The prototypes from WP5 are ready for implementation and testing in real facilities.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or implement these designs?

The project was funded with EUR 531,000 under the MSCA-RISE scheme, which focuses on research staff exchange rather than product commercialization. Licensing terms would need to be negotiated directly with the University of Wolverhampton as coordinator. Based on available project data, no commercial pricing model has been published.

Can these designs work at industrial scale across multiple care facilities?

The deliverables describe design models and prototypes 'ready for implementation and testing,' suggesting they are at a stage where pilot rollouts in individual facilities are feasible. Scaling across a chain of care homes would require further development and adaptation. The consortium's 9-country spread suggests the designs were considered across different cultural contexts.

Who owns the intellectual property from this project?

IP rights under MSCA-RISE projects are governed by the EU grant agreement, typically shared among consortium partners. The University of Wolverhampton coordinated the project and would be the first point of contact for licensing discussions. Specific IP arrangements among the 19 partners would need to be clarified directly.

Are these designs validated for regulatory compliance in care settings?

The project produced co-design methodologies and policy recommendations for including design within dementia care. However, based on available project data, specific regulatory certifications or medical device approvals are not mentioned. Any wearable prototypes would likely need additional certification before deployment.

How long before these prototypes could be deployed commercially?

The project ran from 2016 to 2020 and produced prototypes described as 'ready for implementation and testing.' Moving from prototype to commercial product would require additional development, testing, and certification. A realistic timeline would depend on the specific design chosen and the target market.

Do these designs integrate with existing care management systems?

Based on available project data, integration with existing care IT systems is not explicitly addressed. The personal wearable designs and environmental designs were developed as standalone concepts. Any integration with electronic health records or care management platforms would require additional development.

Consortium

Who built it

The MinD consortium brings together 19 partners from 9 countries (AU, CY, DE, ES, IT, LU, NL, RU, UK), led by the University of Wolverhampton. The mix includes 9 universities, 5 industry partners, 3 research organizations, and 2 others, with 6 SMEs making up 26% of the consortium. For a business looking to adopt these designs, the relatively low industry ratio means the project leaned academic — but the presence of 5 industry partners and 6 SMEs suggests the prototypes were tested against real-world constraints. The broad geographic spread across Europe and Australia indicates the designs account for different care cultures and regulatory environments, which is valuable for any company operating internationally.

UNIVERSITY OF WOLVERHAMPTONCoordinator · UK
QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY - QLD QUTpartner · AU
THE MANCHESTER METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITYparticipant · UK
UNIVERSITEIT TWENTEparticipant · NL
ITMO UNIVERSITYpartner · RU
UNIVERSITE DU LUXEMBOURGparticipant · LU
UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE CATALUNYAparticipant · ES
FUNDACIO EURECATparticipant · ES
FREDERICK UNIVERSITY FUparticipant · CY
FUNDACION INTRASparticipant · ES
ALZHEIMER EUROPEparticipant · LU
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET DRESDENparticipant · DE

How to reach the team

University of Wolverhampton, UK — reach out through their research partnerships office or the project website

Order a report on this consortium See UNIVERSITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing these dementia-friendly design prototypes for your care facilities or product line? SciTransfer can connect you with the research team and help navigate the conversation.

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