Watch the full webinar featuring Swedish experts and Darwin Care's real-world results
Three Critical Takeaways
1. Independence is Measurable
Tangible reduction in support time (45 min/day) without compromising safety or outcomes. This isn't theory—it's documented change.
2. Efficiency Doesn't Mean Compromise
Support for users at Darwin Care was reduced because the structure was delivered differently, not because needs were ignored. Person-centred care remained central.
3. Technology Supports Sustainability
£18,000 for one individual scales meaningfully across services. Sustainable care cannot rely solely on increasing staff input—it requires smarter enabling approaches.
The Challenge Every Commissioner Faces
"Are we building dependency or are we building independence?"
This was the central question posed in our recent webinar attended by over 100 occupational therapists, commissioners, and care managers across the UK. The answer, demonstrated through Swedish research and a compelling UK case study, challenges everything we assume about support.
When someone struggles with memory, time perception, or daily routines, traditional care responds with more prompting, more reminders, more staff time. Well-intentioned, yes. But effective?
Darwin Care in Dorset discovered a different approach—and the results speak for themselves: over £40,000 saved in one year for three service users while significantly increasing their independence.
The Invisible Barriers
Emilie Gerde, Abilia Sweden's cognitive technology specialist with 15+ years experience supporting thousands of users, opened the webinar by explaining what many people with autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, brain injury, or dementia face daily:
- Time perception difficulties - not knowing how long tasks take or what time it is
- Memory challenges - both short-term and long-term
- Organisation struggles - difficulty sequencing and planning activities
- Focus and attention - maintaining concentration on tasks
- Motivation and energy - getting started and staying driven
"Cognitive impairments are often invisible, but they create significant barriers to daily independence," Emilie explained. "For some, this means constantly asking others for reassurance. For others, it creates anxiety around routine changes or uncertainty about what happens next."
The signs are familiar to any care professional: missing appointments, arriving extremely early to avoid being late, struggling to follow instructions, needing constant verbal prompts.
Watch Emilie explain cognitive challenges - Timestamp 04:40
Why Traditional Support Creates Dependency
When the structure for someone's day lives in a staff member's head rather than in the individual's environment, independence becomes impossible to build.
Verbal prompts unintentionally signal: "You cannot remember this yourself."
Visual, technology-delivered prompts communicate something different:
"Here is the information you need to manage independently."
The distinction isn't semantic—it's transformative.
The Power of Predictability
Emilie emphasised that everyone needs answers to eight questions throughout their day:
- What should I do?
- When should I do it?
- What time is it?
- For how long?
- How should I do it?
- Where? With whom? Why?
"If you have cognitive support that helps you answer these questions, it reduces uncertainty, anxiety, and stress," Emilie explained. "It gives a sense of control and safety—which is key to being active, performing, and becoming independent."
This is where MEMOplanner transforms the equation.
Watch where cognitive technology helps - Timestamp 11:30
See MEMOplanner in Action
The webinar included an extensive live demonstration showing exactly how MEMOplanner makes independence visible:
Time Visualisation:
A time pillar where every dot represents 15 minutes—users can literally see how much time exists until activities start or end. Night mode counts down to morning. Circular timers make abstract time concrete.
Customisable Support:
Activities visualised through pictures, colours, and text. Speech synthesis reads everything aloud. Checklists break complex tasks into manageable steps. Video instructions demonstrate procedures. Notes provide context.
Portable Independence:
The main device stays at home in a consistent location. MEMOplanner Go app mirrors everything on mobile phones. Remote calendar management through a secure web portal. Works completely offline if needed.
"You don't have to ask someone all these questions," Emilie demonstrated. "You have the answer yourself."
Watch the complete live demo - Timestamp 18:24
The Evidence: What Research Shows
Published studies demonstrate MEMOplanner:
- Improves time experience, orientation, and management
- Gives users control over their activities
- Increases predictability and reduces stress
- Reduces conflicts and enhances quality of life
A 2019 Journal of Intellectual Disabilities study found young people using MEMOplanner experienced increased predictability leading to security, enhanced communication leading to self-expression, and ultimately—the ability to influence decisions, make choices, and take initiatives.
"That is what it's all about," Emilie concluded. "Predictability, control, security, communication, participation, and building relationships."
Watch the research findings - Timestamp 32:22
Darwin Care: Real UK Results
Mary Sievwright, Abilia's UK Deployment Manager, presented the transformation story that proves international evidence translates to UK social care.
Dorset Council's 2023 optimisation project challenged providers to achieve better outcomes, promote independence, reduce dependency, and protect budgets simultaneously.
Kai's Story
Limited verbal communication, enjoys technology, wants greater independence. Previously required staff prompts for medication, activities, and daily structure.
MEMOplanner provided clear daily structure including medication prompts, social activities, and personal goals. MEMOplanner Go app ensured consistency everywhere.
The Results:
- Support reduced by 45 minutes per day
- £6,066 annual cost savings
- £18,000+ over 3-year licence period
- All surplus returned to Dorset Council's Adult Social Care Budget
- Kai reports feeling more in control
- Enhanced independence, reduced reliance on staff
Sam (time management difficulties): MEMOplanner with alarms and checklists resulted in greater independence, reduced anxiety, fewer staff hours.
Noel (Down syndrome, early dementia): MEMOdayboard (low-tech visual solution) reduced support from 1:1 to 1:3, delayed specialist placement by 12 months, saved 2 hours daily staffing.
"This wasn't about removing care," Sievwright emphasised. "It was about recalibrating it."
Watch Darwin Care's complete story - Timestamp 35:07
The Choice Ahead
"Cognitive assistive technology is not about doing less for people," concluded Bryn Morgan, Abilia's UK Sales Director. "It's about helping people do more for themselves. When the structure lives in the environment rather than in someone else's head, independence becomes sustainable."
The evidence from Sweden exists. The UK implementations are proven. The financial case is documented.
For Kai, Sam, Noel, and thousands across Scandinavia and the growing number in the UK, predictability creates security. Structure enables independence. Technology supports humanity.
