Innovative research by De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) into using technology to improve the lives of older people has been showcased at an EU referendum debate.
Dr Mark Scase, Principal Lecturer in Psychology at DMU, was invited to join a select group of speakers – including Jo Johnson, Minister for Universities and Science – at the final event in Universities UK’s Universities for Europe campaign.
The event, held in London, was a forum at which examples of excellent academic research being carried out in collaboration with EU members or funded by EU money were showcased, combined with views outlined by academics, politicians and other delegates showing the effect of Brexit on higher education, ahead of the EU referendum on June 23.
Dr Scase’s project – known as DOREMI – is being carried out by DMU together with other universities across Europe in a consortium led from Italy.
The goal of the project is to produce software to be used on a tablet computer to encourage older people to keep their brains active, take exercise, interact socially and eat well.
DMU’s role in the work is to help design applications to keep brains active and to implement psychological strategies to encourage people not to give up. DMU is overseeing a pilot study taking place in retirement villages in Milton Keynes, Northampton and Wolverhampton, with the first set of findings expected later this year.
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The 3m Euro project is funded through the EU, with DMU getting around 210,000 Euros to fund its part in the work.
Dr Scase said: “It was a superb opportunity to showcase the research and I had approaches from members of local authorities interested in being part of future trials after I had spoken.
“Being one of the only speakers invited to a meeting on a subject so important underlines the quality of the research we are doing at DMU.”
He said trials were currently being carried out with residential villages in Milton Keynes, Northampton and Wolverhampton to see how effective the software is at keeping older people mentally well and active.
“We would love to expand the trial and involve the local community here in Leicester, so I would be interested to hear from any potential partners as the project develops,” Dr Scase said.
Posted on Wednesday 15 June 2016