EIC and Cadent seek bright ideas for dementia sufferers

The Call 4 Action event, on 6 November in Wembley, north west London, aims to kick-start new thinking from the sector.

The invitation is being extended to utility companies, charities, SMEs and innovators, to discuss the challenges of daily life for people living with dementia, and how the utility sector can help to address them.

Attendees will hear from experts from the Alzheimer’s Society, who will discuss how innovative ideas, products and services can promote independent living.

Businesses can sign up to take part in the Call 4 Action workshop by signing up here.

According to the Alzheimer’s Society, 1 in 6 people over the age of 80 have dementia, with 850,000 in the UK currently living with the condition.

This number is forecast to rise to over 1 million by 2025.

The EIC will use the findings of the workshop to facilitate future collaboration across the UK electricity and gas markets, as well as water companies and the communications industry.

It will also work closely with the existing Utility Working Group of the government’s National Mental Capacity Forum to help identify and sponsor solutions to the challenges.

Denise Massey, EIC managing director, said: “The purpose of the EIC is to work with SMEs and utility companies to drive innovation that brings about social progress and improves the quality of people’s lives in the UK.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Cadent and the Alzheimer’s Society to host the Call 4 Action workshop to lead research into how the challenges of living with dementia can be solved through innovation within the utilities sector.

“We hope that this is the first major step in the creation of meaningful solutions that support the industry-wide goal of keeping customers on the priority services register (PSR), such as those with dementia, living independently in the safety of their own homes.”

Jo Giles, customer safeguarding manager at Cadent, said: “As providers of vital services, the utilities sector is committed to prioritising the needs and protection of people in vulnerable situations. Our aim is to empower those people to be able to live well and not be left behind by an industry that is rapidly changing.

“The work we are doing with the EIC, starting with the Call 4 Action workshop, is key to understanding how the industry can come together to facilitate innovation and make a difference to people living with dementia.”

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