SURREY and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is appealing for 1,400 people diagnosed with mild to moderate dementia to take part in a ground-breaking trial that could significantly improve their quality of life.

The trial, called Technology Integrated Health Management (TIHM) for dementia, is the first in the UK to look at how smart technology could play a major role in supporting people with dementia who live at home.

TIHM is based on a network of small, internet connected technological devices such as sensors and trackers that are placed around the home.

These devices help clinicians to remotely monitor the health and well-being of people with dementia and intervene to help someone from becoming seriously unwell.

To take part in the trial, a person must live in Surrey or North East Hampshire and have been diagnosed with mild to moderate dementia. They should also have a regular carer willing to get involved in the trial.

Dementia experts from both Surrey and Borders Partnership and the Alzheimer’s Society will be available to discuss the study on Wednesday, October 19, at G Live, Guildford from 10am to 3pm. People attending the event will also be able to examine the technology.

Dr Ramin Nilforooshan, a leading dementia specialist at Surrey and Borders Partnership, said: “This study has the potential to help us pick up on health problems early on so that we can treat people at home and help them avoid going into hospital. We know that people with dementia do not respond well to being in hospital and that their symptoms can worsen in this environment.

“The study will also provide us with an important window into people’s lives that we do not currently have. When you see a patient, you are relying on what they can remember about the last few months. With this technology, we will have a clearer picture of what their health and wellbeing has been like during the period we have not seen them.

“This will provide us with crucial information that could help us develop better treatments and support services for people with this condition in the future.”

People keen to come along to the information event are asked to register their place by emailing [email protected] or to find out more about the study and register an interest to take part, people should go to www.sabp.nhs.uk/tihm.