Dr Lua Perimal-Lewis has created digital tools to support dementia care.
Empowering carers and those with mild cognitive impairment or early stage dementia is a focus for early career researcher Dr Lua Perimal-Lewis, Research Fellow at Flinders University’s Digital Health Research Centre.
Currently, there are no frameworks or support mechanisms for carers of people with early stage dementia or mild cognitive impairment to comply with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) interventions.
Dr Perimal-Lewis is addressing this gap by developing an online platform to embed digital tools and online support options such as online calendars with reminders, brain training exercises and image-based contact list for phone calls.
Last year Dr Perimal-Lewis received donor-funded Impact Seed Funding for Early Career Researchers to scope her study with a group aged over 65 who are having difficulty remembering people, appointments or tasks.
‘The funding is enabling me to examine the feasibility, adoption rate and value of delivering brain training and physical activities using a tablet-based application to assist people living with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage dementia,’ says Dr Perimal-Lewis.
Dr Lua Perimal-Lewis, Research Fellow at Flinders University’s Digital Health Research Centre
The grant also enabled her to attend the international OpenLivingLab Days conference and workshop organised by the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL) in Geneva where she was able to learn about practical elements of user-driven innovation and advances in co-creation methodologies, tools and best practices.
‘The seed funding gave me the opportunity to explore and build connections with prominent international researchers and organisations from around the world, creating new collaboration and learning partnerships,’ says Dr Perimal-Lewis.
The Impact Seed Funding initiative supports brave new research at Flinders University that has the potential to create positive change throughout our community. This year, eight early career researchers (PhD graduates up to eight years post graduation) will each receive up to $10,000.
However, we need your support to continue the Impact Seed Funding initiative and to create opportunities for Flinders early career researchers to carve their unique research pathways, build international collaborations and make new discoveries.
100% of your tax-deductible donation will fund the important work of Flinders University’s early career researchers who are passionate about making a difference in our community.
‘Thank you to the donors who have supported the Impact Seed Funding initiative,’ says Dr Perimal-Lewis. ‘It has given me the opportunity to grow as an independent researcher and build capacity in digital health research, which I am passionate about.’
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