Reflections on the Alzheimer’s Society Launchpad programme

Earlier this year, Variment was selected to participate in the Alzheimer's Society Launchpad programme. 

Launchpad is an incubator programme that helps people to de-risk, validate and pitch dementia innovation product ideas. We wanted to join the programme because we were building simulations for healthcare professionals working in dementia and elderly care. We believed that we would benefit from the network and expertise that the Alzheimer’s Society had. In addition, we planned to expand into the UK in the near future, and Launchpad would give us a better understanding of the UK healthcare system. 

Through the programme we had a chance to meet local dementia groups online and in West Sussex to learn about their experiences of living with dementia. The conversations with the groups highlighted gaps in communication between healthcare workers and patients with dementia and their family members. Many felt like the staff talked past them instead of talking to them. Using jargon like mild cognitive impairment was definitely not helpful when telling someone that they had dementia. 

I met Jane when I was in Brighton for the Launchpad programme. Shaking as she approached me, Jane told me her story as if she was experiencing it in real time. Her journey about caring for her husband who passed away a few years ago was something you could not easily forget. He had late-stage dementia and Jane spent over five months battling with the system for the care that her husband was supposed to receive. In this process, they were treated as a burden, and Jane felt like she was not seen or heard. As Jane recalled her experience, I could sense her frustration, resentment and sadness. 

Jane’s story and the many stories I heard during the programme emphasise the importance of communication in healthcare. Something that is considered trivial for a healthcare worker who deals with the matter on a daily basis, such as delivering a diagnosis or handling a case, would be consequential for patients battling with diseases and their family members. “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou.

The insights we gained from Launchpad have helped fuel our mission further: enabling more empathetic communication in healthcare and social services through our AI-driven role play simulations. Today, we are testing eight simulations with three organisations. Stay tuned for more updates!

If you are curious about what we are doing, sign up for a demo. 

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Mai Phan

Founder & CEO