Case Study

Reducing avoidable hospital admission for people living with dementia

29 June 2026

Case Study Ageing wellCardiovascular disease

Summary

As part of the national Fit for the Future mission from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) delivered by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), we led a programme on behalf of the Health Innovation Network to identify adoption-ready innovations to help reduce avoidable hospital admissions for people living with dementia by 30% by 2029. Using a structured, nationally agreed assessment approach, the programme reviewed more than 100 innovations. We identified eight that met the mission’s criteria and could support improved care across dementia pathways.

Challenge

Dementia places significant pressure across health and social care systems. People living with dementia occupy around 25% of acute hospital beds [1], stay in hospital twice as long as people without dementia [2], and are more likely to be admitted for conditions that could be treated in the community [3].

Hospital admission can trigger distress, confusion and delirium for people living with dementia. This can lead to a decline in functioning and reduce the likelihood of returning home to independent living[4]. Factors contributing to avoidable admission include:

limited proactive post‑diagnostic support
reduced ability to recognise health deterioration and seek help
complex and fragmented care pathways
risk of exclusion from out‑of‑hospital services
variable dementia training across the workforce
lack of future care planning, particularly towards end of life

Addressing avoidable hospital admission for people living with dementia requires a system‑wide response that spans primary care, community services, social care and acute settings.

Approach

Health Innovation KSS applied a methodology agreed with the national Health Innovation Network to identify and assess innovations aligned to the dementia Fit for the Future mission. A dementia‑specific lens was applied throughout the process.

The programme included four stages:

1) Horizon scanning

Working with key opinion leaders, priority areas were agreed that could support up to a 30% reduction in hospital admissions for people living with dementia. A horizon scan across these areas identified 120 innovations with potential, which was reduced to 56 innovations after applying dementia‑specific criteria.

2) Prioritisation

The 56 innovations were scored using reach, impact, confidence and effort criteria. Additional dementia‑specific considerations included whether innovations were designed or tested with people living with dementia, were accessible, and could integrate with existing services. Following this process, 12 innovations were prioritised for further assessment.

3) Assessment

Of the 12 shortlisted innovations, 11 completed a full assessment using the Health Innovation Network Innovation Assessment Tool. Eight innovations were identified as ready for adoption and aligned with the mission objectives.

4) Adoption and spread support

Adoption and spread playbooks were developed for the eight selected innovations. These included:

one technology‑enabled model of care
three technology‑enabled monitoring ecosystems
two lighting solutions (one for home settings and one for care homes)
one education solution
one virtual clinical monitoring patch

People living with dementia, carers, cross‑sector professionals and key opinion leaders were engaged throughout to inform assessment criteria and programme recommendations.

“The simplicity and accessibility [of technology and pathways] is key” – Person living with dementia and carer

Impact

The programme achieved its objective of identifying innovations ready for adoption that could support reductions in avoidable hospital admissions for people living with dementia.

The work highlighted key system‑level findings, including:

dementia cannot be managed by a single part of the system and requires a cross‑sector response
fragmented or poorly designed care pathways act as barriers to accessing community‑based support
people living with dementia need technology that is simple, accessible and adaptable as needs change
not all digital or monitoring technologies are suitable for people living with dementia
improved dementia training is needed across the workforce, including in acute settings
there is opportunity to build on technology already used in local authorities and adult social care, with appropriate clinical governance when used for health monitoring

“A new (integrated) service model is needed for people living with dementia’’ – Key opinion leader

The findings and recommendations are informing the wider Fit for the Future dementia mission, including work to increase dementia diagnosis rates to 92% within 18 weeks by 2029. Of the three initial Fit for the Future clinical areas (children and young people’s mental health, cardiovascular disease and dementia), dementia is being funded first, and this programme is shaping future delivery.

Spread and scalability

Watch – Webinar attendees heard directly from people living with dementia

As part of activity to support spread and adoption, Health Innovation KSS delivered a national webinar showcasing the programme’s findings and the innovations identified. The webinar was delivered on behalf of four Health Innovation Networks and attracted strong engagement, with 149 attendees joining live and 231 sign-ups in total. This provided an opportunity to share key insights with a wide cross-sector audience, including health and care professionals, commissioners and innovation partners, helping to raise awareness of the solutions identified and support early conversations around adoption and scale.

This work forms part of a wider national strategic focus on dementia led by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. The adoption and spread playbooks provide a structured approach to implementation and are already supporting discussions within health and care systems, including within the region.

The methodology and learning are transferable across systems and provide a foundation for future dementia innovation, pathway redesign and national scaling as part of the Fit for the Future mission.

Innovations ready for adoption:

Further information about the innovations identified through this programme is available here:

Find out more

This work will continue to inform national and regional dementia innovation, including an upcoming national webinar which will cover all three Fit for the Future themes.