Doing dementia differently: A range of co-produced resources from the IDEAL programme

Abstract

This article introduces different free resources for people with dementia, carers and professionals working within dementia care. All were produced as part of the IDEAL research programme, drawing on the wealth of evidence created as part of this large cohort longitudinal study. Explaining the background, the creation process and where to find each resource, the article directs readers towards resources readily available for use, as well as information about forthcoming resources.Four ready-to-use resources are described in detail. The Living with Dementia Toolkit is a comprehensive suite of resources for people with dementia and carers. It also features lots of different people with dementia and carers sharing their stories in their own words. The Toolkit is being widely used in NHS and third-sector settings, as well as by community groups. My Life Questionnaire is a new measure of living well which was co-produced with people living with mild-to-moderate dementia and scientifically validated with the IDEAL cohort. ‘The World Turned Upside Down’ began as a play and became a documentary film which can be used to raise awareness, promote discussion and within educational or continuing professional development settings. ‘The Bridge’ is an opera about the experience of living with dementia through the diagnostic process and how a husband and wife manage following diagnosis. Both artistic productions involved people with lived experience advising the performers on how to portray dementia authentically.