Patricia Hewitt pledges support for the use of assistive technology to help people with dementia

The website, funded by The Department of Health, which provides information on technologies that can support people with dementia to live at home with greater independence.

Ms Hewitt gave an inspiring speech at the Highpoint Conference Centre in Leicester, highlighting the importance of helping people remain independent and confirmed that the government is committed to supporting initiatives like this around the country. She said,

'I am delighted with the new web site to help people with dementia and their families to get the technological support they need. I am particularly pleased that Leicester and the East Midlands are leading the way in this kind of new support for very vulnerable people.'

The first of its kind, the web site called http://www.atdementia.org.uk/ was created by Trent Dementia Services Development Centre to provide a vital and time saving resource for professionals, families and people with early dementia. It was developed in response to the rapid development in assistive technologies for people with dementia. It was inspired by, and has received expert advice from, pioneering schemes run by Leicestershire County Council (the SIGNAL project) and Northamptonshire County Council (Safe at Home project).

Professor James Lindesay of Leicester University opened the event, followed by Keith Turner who spoke of his experience of having early Dementia and the importance of the internet in helping people remain independent and informed. Keren Down, from the Foundation for Assistive Technology, spoke on the potential for education and training in Assistive Technology for cognitive support and Cllr David Sprason of Leicestershire County Council invited the attendees to view some assistive technology devices on board the Council's special new demonstration bus.

Trent DSDC's Deborah Hutchings and Simon Burrow gave a brief demonstration of the web site and how to find relevant information on devices and technologies on the market, prices and retailers as well as information on Dementia and links to organisations. A number of Assistive Technologies suppliers exhibited devices featured on the site. These included: sensors that can send an alert to a carer or call centre if a person needs assistance; sensors that can activate equipment such a light to come on if someone gets up in the middle of the night; special reminder devices for people with failing memories and systems that monitor how active and safe people are who live on their own.

Clive Evers, Director of Knowledge Management at the Alzheimer's Society said,

The arrival of this website is an excellent development for anyone concerned with dementia and is warmly welcomed by the Alzheimer's Society. This clear, easy to use site provides practical information on the many developments taking place to create aids and adaptations to help people with dementia and their carers. I would encourage people to regularly check the site and contribute their experiences to the discussion forum.