Innovation: Noen AS KuPA for dementia

Norway

AAI Domains:

• Independent, healthy and secure living (physical activity, independent living, access to health and care services)

• Capacity and enabling environment (use of ICT)

The increasing number of people living with dementia is a feature of ageing societies with growing numbers living with the condition for many years. While people with dementia are cognitively impaired they may be physically fit and active but their opportunities for physical activity may diminish due to their condition. Improving the quality of life for people with dementia and their care givers is an important area for social innovation and public policy as the risks of health damaging carer strain could significantly increase in the future.

Noen AS is a social enterprise established in 2008 after one of the founders had personal experience of the lack of opportunities for physical activity for people with dementia. After approaching the local municipality they were told that ‘someone should do something about it’ so they established Noen AS (Norwegian for someone) to provide supported physical activities for people with dementia with a range of other support and training services for care givers, care professionals, volunteers, organisations, clubs and associations.

With funding from charitable foundations and public funds, Noen AS – in partnership with the software company Kantega and SINTEF (the Scandinavian research institute) – developed KuPA, an innovative ICT tool used to assess and recommend appropriate physical activities for people living with dementia. Noen tutors visit families in their own homes and use KuPA to assess the capabilities of people with dementia and activities that would be stimulating and suitable. They then provide support, typically for two 2-hour sessions per week, as a subscription payment service. The tutors also train carers to improve the quality of informal care for people living with dementia and to manage the stresses and strains that caring can involve.

Noen AS started in mid-Norway and operates in 13 municipalities working with more than 300 families and has won several awards for social entrepreneurship and dementia care but is now looking to expand across Norway, into other Scandinavian states and into the UK. The KuPA method has been presented to the Ministry of Health and there are plans for 1200 KuPA workers to provide assistance and support to more than 4,000 people with dementia and their families.

Noen AS also provide respite care and support to carers when they are travelling or attending appointments with the person with dementia. They also run courses for voluntary and public sector organisations on person-centred care for people with dementia and how often small changes can make a big difference to the quality of life of people living with dementia and their care givers.

In relation to active ageing, Noen AS and the KuPA method provide increased opportunities for physical activity that can delay disease progression, prevent morbidity and reduce anxiety and stress. This involves the innovative use of ICT to assess and recommend suitable activities and it enables independent living for people with dementia who may otherwise have to move into institutional nursing home care. There are likely to be benefits to people living with dementia, their care givers and wider society from social innovations such as this that provide tertiary prevention and support for people affected by these debilitating conditions.

Noen AS website