I-Can-Do Service
Developing digital accessibility for the dementia volunteer service.
About I-Can-Do Service
The IDoService development 2021-2022 generated some insights for improvement. Our new I-Can-Do Service project (September 2023 - May 2024) has two aims: Firstly, to improve the service and, secondly, to develop the Service for public access and implementation.
We successfully trialled the IDoService with Age UK Salford in 2022. In this pilot trial, our wellbeing mentor used the physical I-Can-Do Pathway guide and workbook, to deliver the three repeatable wellbeing mentor sessions. People with dementia enjoyed participating in the sessions. Both of our participants felt more confident afterwards and one even felt able to start volunteering. However, the trial also showed that writing into the booklet during the sessions proved difficult for participants due to both physical and cognitive disabilities. In response, our wellbeing mentor from Age UK Salford suggested that an interactive digital version of the booklet would be the way forward. This would allow taking notes and sharing them with participants and their care partners as well as volunteer services staff.
Therefore, in this new project, we will develop an interactive digital version of the I-Can-Do Service through six co-design sessions with people with dementia, their care partners and representatives from dementia and volunteer organisations. We would also conduct a second, larger-scale trial of the Service to develop. In addition to the development of the digital version of the Service, the co-design sessions and the additional trial, will also allow us to investigate and develop a long-term plan for the public implementation and sustainability of the I-Can-Do Service.
In this project we will be supported by Age UK Salford and company Reason Digital.
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Co-Design workshops
We will conduct a series of four co-design workshops, including focus group style discussions and creative activities, with people with dementia, their care partners, and professionals from dementia organisations and volunteer groups to find out how the digital format of the Service should look like and how it should work. During the workshops, participants will have a chance to try out the first digital mock-up of the I-Can-Do Service. Insights from these co-design workshops will be used to develop the digital prototype of the I-Can-Do Service.
In addition, we will gather insights about the support needed to adopt the app (initial training) and connecting stakeholders (‘matchmaking’) to deliver the Service in two further co-design sessions with participants from dementia and volunteer organisations.
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I-Can-Do Service Trial
We will invite six people with dementia and their care partners to try out the I-Can-Do Service. People with dementia will be invited to join three wellbeing-mentor sessions to explore their strengths and interests, find out about volunteering services in their local area, and identify suitable volunteering opportunities based on their interest.
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Project team
Professor Kristina Niedderer, Principal Investigator, Professor of Design, Manchester School of Art
Dr Pui Ling Fung, Co-investigator, Research Associate, Manchester School of Art
Ms Emma Gerrard, Age UK Salford
Reason Digital
Latest Project News
I-Can-Do Service App: a digital turn of support for people with dementia
We are delighted to announce that we have received Healthy Ageing Challenge Award as follow-on funding to develop our IDoService further to help realise it for public use.
With rising numbers, support at the early stages is important to help people maintain their health and wellbeing as long as possible. The challenge for supporting people at the early stages of dementia is in providing an individualised and tailored offer of activities in their local community that meets their interests and needs, that is not perceived at stigmatising, and that allows them to make a contribution for which they feel valued.
The IDoService offers such a novel and innovative programme. The service focuses on older people with a recent diagnosis of dementia and supports them in identifying, participating and contributing to social activities in their community by connecting them to local volunteer services. The Service is built around a core 3- session plan, delivered by the wellbeing mentor, which allows people to explore their strengths and interests, get to know what is available locally and to decide what they want to do in a safe and convivial way. We have successfully trialled the service with Age UK Salford in 2022. This resulted in the recommendation to provide a digital version of the service to allow sharing information between the wellbeing mentor, people with dementia, their carer partners and volunteer service staff.
For this new project, we will work with people with dementia, their care partners, dementia and volunteer organisations through co-design workshops to develop the I-Can-Do App prototype and extend the trial in Greater Manchester to make the Service more user-friendly and easily scalable. This project will have a wide impact on how to improve the wellbeing of people living with dementia and recognition of the value people with dementia can bring to society and to reduce stigma.
This project is funded through the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) as part of the Healthy Ageing Challenge, delivered by Innovate UK and ESRC. The UKRI Healthy Ageing Challenge Catalyst Awards – Round 4 is delivered in partnership with Zinc.
For any questions or suggestions about access to meaningful activities, please do not hesitate to contact the research team on: mailto:[email protected]
Project Funding
This project is funded through the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) as part of the Healthy Ageing Challenge, delivered by Innovate UK and ESRC. The UKRI Healthy Ageing Challenge Catalyst Awards – Round 4 is delivered in partnership with Zinc.
