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Establishing and evaluating a person-centred approach to supporting individuals living with cognitive impairments in Nottingham 

    Cohort 2025 PhD Project

    Friends of woman and man in wheelchair communicate in park. Rehabilitation and friendly support for disabled people concept

    About The Project

    This project aims to support individuals living with cognitive impairments in Nottingham. Cognitive impairments can result from conditions such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, and dementia are more common in older populations. These conditions can lead to challenges with attention, memory and executive functions. Impairments of these cognitive functions can significantly impact individuals’ daily living activities, decreasing quality of life. This project seeks to use technological solutions as a flexible and cost-effective way to provide support where long-term support and monitoring are currently lacking.  

    “Ageing in place” is a key component of the UK’s ageing policy (Office for Health Improvement & Disparities, 2023). However, there are stark regional differences in the degree to which older people will be able to achieve this aim. In Nottingham, all constituencies have high percentages of adults 50 and over who are described as “struggling and vulnerable” (Consumer Data Research Centre, 2024). While services like the Linden Lodge Neurorehabilitation Unit and Headway offer crucial support, there remains a substantial gap in providing scalable, personalised, technology-driven solutions for use in daily life to enhance independence.  

    This PhD will evaluate the needs of individuals through interviews, questionnaires and cognitive tests. Based on these insights, interventions will be developed and implemented together with their family/caregivers. By addressing the gaps in current support systems, this research aims to enhance the quality of life for individuals with cognitive impairments in Nottingham by enabling them to live safely at home for longer, reducing caregiver burden and the burden on support services.   

    Project Aims 

    The overall aims of the project are:     

    1. To evaluate and monitor the cognitive impairments in individuals with brain injuries using existing and bespoke tasks.  
    1. To design and implement customised technological interventions tailored to individual needs to improve daily functioning and prolong independent living.  
    1. To monitor the effectiveness of the interventions and adjust based on cognitive assessments and participant feedback.  
    1. To improve the overall quality of life for individuals and their caregivers through sustained support and innovative solutions.  
    1. To engage community stakeholders to inform the research, and share findings and best practice, promoting scalability and sustainability of successful interventions. 

    Project Team