Blog

When memory fades, can AI help us deliver more human care?

Hannah Granshaw

23 September 2026

•

4 min read

For someone living with Alzheimer’s disease, the ability to remember, communicate and make sense of the world around them can gradually become more difficult.

But behind every diagnosis is a person with a lifetime of memories, relationships, routines and preferences. Someone whose individuality, dignity and need to feel understood remain, even as their condition progresses.

According to Alzheimer’s Society nearly one million people in the UK are living with dementia, a figure projected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040.

This World Alzheimer’s Month, the international campaign to raise dementia awareness and challenge stigma, the theme “The Earlier You Know, The More You Can Do: A Dementia Diagnosis Matters” highlights the importance of timely diagnosis and access to the right care and support.

NHS England figures from February 2026 show that approximately one in three people aged 65 and over estimated to be living with dementia in England did not have a recorded diagnosis.

Delays in recognising symptoms, difficulties accessing specialist services and the fear surrounding a diagnosis can all contribute to people missing out on timely care and support.

AI in dementia care is opening up new possibilities, from supporting earlier detection and diagnosis to helping healthcare professionals make more informed decisions.

But receiving a diagnosis is only the beginning. How can we ensure that people living with dementia continue to receive the personalised, compassionate care they need as their condition progresses?

Understanding the person behind the diagnosis

For someone living with dementia, a hospital admission can be particularly challenging. Unfamiliar surroundings, changes in routine and interactions with different healthcare professionals can create confusion and distress.

Families and carers often hold invaluable knowledge about their loved one. They know the small things that bring comfort, the situations that cause distress and the ways to help them feel reassured.

But when someone moves between wards, hospitals or care settings, how do we ensure that understanding moves with them?

Connected healthcare systems can help make important information about a person’s needs, preferences and care history accessible to the professionals caring for them.

And as AI continues to advance, there is an opportunity to explore how technology could help healthcare professionals make better use of that information, supporting more personalised and compassionate care.

Not by replacing human connection, but by helping preserve it.

The opportunity for AI in dementia care

AI is opening up new possibilities in healthcare, including research into earlier detection of Alzheimer’s disease and more personalised approaches to care.

Beyond diagnosis, AI could help healthcare professionals navigate complex patient information, identify relevant details about individual needs and support greater continuity as people move between different care settings.

For people living with dementia, this could mean fewer occasions where they or their families need to repeat important information, and a more consistent understanding of their needs throughout their care journey.

But the potential of AI must be balanced with the responsibility to implement it safely and thoughtfully.

Technology should support clinical judgement, protect personal information and be designed around the needs of the people using it.

Most importantly, it should help healthcare professionals deliver care that recognises the individual, not simply their diagnosis.

Keeping people at the centre

At SCFH, we believe successful digital transformation starts with understanding the people it is intended to support.

Our work across digital health, data and technology focuses on helping healthcare organisations deliver more connected, effective and patient-centred care.

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into healthcare, we have an opportunity to consider how it could support people living with dementia, their families and the professionals caring for them.

Can it help preserve important information about someone’s individual needs? Support more personalised care? Give healthcare professionals more time to focus on the human interactions that matter most?

These are the questions that should guide how we develop and implement AI in healthcare.

Alzheimer’s may change how someone communicates, remembers and experiences the world, but it does not change their need to be understood, respected and cared for.

Supporting people affected by dementia

This World Alzheimer’s Month is an opportunity to raise awareness, challenge stigma and reflect on how we can better support people living with dementia and those who care for them.

To learn more about dementia, access support or make a donation to help those affected, visit Alzheimer’s Society.

SCFH. A modern approach to health consulting.

We combine strategic advisory with hands-on delivery, across data, digital and technology, helping health, life sciences and public sector organsisations improve outcomes, productivity and long-term value. Our diverse team brings together deep industry expertise, innovative thinking and a shared commitment to delivering outstanding results for our partners.

Get in touch

If you’d like to find out more about SCFH and how we can support your organisation, please contact us today.

Copy link

Related Insights

Blog

Awarded ISO 42001 certification

SCFH has achieved BS EN ISO 42001:2023 certification, the international standard for Artificial Intelligence Management Systems (AIMS), marking another important milestone in our commitment to quality, governance and responsible innovation.As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in healthcare, the opportunities to improve services, support clinical teams and enhance patient outcomes are significant. But realising that potential requires more than technology alone. It demands clear accountability, effective risk management and an approach that puts people first.ISO 42001 provides an internationally recognised framework for organisations to establish, implement, maintain and continually improve how they manage AI.Building trust in AIFor healthcare organisations, trust is fundamental. As AI becomes more widely adopted, patients, clinicians and healthcare leaders need confidence that technology is being used appropriately, with clear safeguards and effective oversight.Our certification reflects SCFH's commitment to these principles and provides a recognised framework for managing AI-related risks and responsibilities.The certification reinforces our focus on:Responsible AI: Supporting the ethical and considered use of AI, with appropriate human oversight.Risk management: Identifying and managing risks associated with AI.Accountability and transparency: Establishing clear responsibilities and decision-making processes.Continuous improvement: Evolving our approach as technology and expectations develop.Supporting responsible innovation in healthcareAt SCFH, we work alongside healthcare organisations to turn digital and technological ambition into practical, sustainable improvements.Our ISO 42001 certification covers an Artificial Intelligence Management System with a stated scope encompassing our strategic advisory, programme delivery, digital optimisation and technology services.As AI continues to develop, this provides an important foundation for supporting healthcare organisations in navigating new opportunities and challenges, while maintaining a clear focus on delivering meaningful outcomes.Building on our existing ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 27001 achievements, this latest certification further strengthens our commitment to quality, environmental responsibility, information security and robust governance across our work.A huge thank you to everyone involved in achieving this certification. It's a reflection of the hard work, collaboration and commitment of our team, and another important step in continuing to build a business that our clients and colleagues can have confidence in.

Hannah Granshaw

21 October 2026

Blog

Smarter Estates, Sustainable Care

The buildings in which we deliver healthcare have a significant impact on the environment, the way services operate and the experiences of patients and staff. Yet when we talk about digital transformation in healthcare, the focus is often on clinical systems and technologies, rather than the buildings and infrastructure that support them.I believe there's a real opportunity to change that.By connecting buildings, technology and data, we can create healthcare environments that are not only smarter and more efficient, but also more sustainable.It's a topic I'll be exploring at the Sustainability in Healthcare Summit 2026 in Dublin this October, where I'll be speaking about how digitally enabled estates can help healthcare organisations reduce energy consumption, make better use of space and assets, and turn digital investment into measurable environmental, operational and financial benefits.Looking Beyond the TechnologyOne of the most important considerations when developing a digital estates strategy is understanding what we're actually trying to achieve.Technology alone doesn't make a building sustainable. It's how we use that technology, the information it provides and the decisions it enables that make the difference.Whether we're looking at an existing hospital or planning a new healthcare facility, there are opportunities to improve how buildings perform, how resources are managed and how spaces support the people using them.For example, connecting building management systems with operational data can provide greater visibility of energy consumption, space utilisation and asset performance. This allows organisations to identify inefficiencies, make more informed decisions and target investment where it can have the greatest impact.But to realise these benefits, digital needs to be considered as part of the wider estates and operational strategy, rather than something added later.Making Better Use of What We Already HaveWhen discussing sustainable healthcare infrastructure, it's easy to focus on new hospitals and major developments. While embedding digital capabilities into new buildings is essential, there is also significant potential within existing healthcare estates.Many organisations are already operating complex environments with ageing infrastructure, increasing demand and competing financial pressures.Digital technology can help us understand these environments more effectively.From monitoring energy consumption and improving maintenance planning to understanding how clinical spaces and assets are used, better access to data can support practical improvements without necessarily requiring large-scale redevelopment.The opportunity is to make better use of what we already have while ensuring future investments support longer-term sustainability goals.Turning Digital Investment into Measurable BenefitsHealthcare organisations are under increasing pressure to demonstrate value from their digital investments.For digital estates, this means looking beyond the implementation of technology and focusing on the outcomes it delivers.Before we can improve the performance of our healthcare estates, we need to understand how they're operating today. Better visibility of building data, energy consumption and asset utilisation gives organisations the foundation to make informed decisions, identify opportunities for improvement and measure meaningful progress.Can we reduce energy consumption and operating costs? Can we improve the utilisation of buildings and assets? Can we create environments that are more comfortable, efficient and responsive to the needs of patients and staff?These are the questions that should inform our approach.By establishing clear objectives and measures from the outset, organisations can better understand the environmental, operational and financial impact of their investments.Importantly, these benefits aren't achieved by estates or digital teams working in isolation.Bringing together estates, digital, clinical and operational colleagues is essential to ensuring that technology supports the wider needs of healthcare organisations and the people who use their facilities.Connecting People, Buildings and TechnologyThroughout my career in digital strategy, enterprise architecture and technology transformation, I've seen the importance of connecting technology decisions with wider organisational objectives.Having worked across major digital transformation initiatives and international hospital programmes, including the NHS New Hospital Programme, I recognise the value of embedding digital thinking into the earliest stages of planning and development.But this approach is just as relevant to existing buildings as it is to new developments.At SCFH, our Digitally Enabled Healthcare Estates practice focuses on helping healthcare organisations connect their digital ambitions with the infrastructure, technology and operational capabilities needed to deliver them.Ultimately, smarter healthcare estates aren't simply about more connected buildings. They're about creating environments that work better for the people delivering and receiving care, while making more responsible use of resources.My session, "Smarter Estates, Sustainable Care. Driving Sustainability through Digital Estates," forms part of Session 3, The Role of AI and Digital Technology in Sustainable Healthcare.The summit's theme, "Partnerships for Sustainable Healthcare – turning shared goals into measurable actions and solutions," is particularly relevant to this discussion.Creating more sustainable healthcare environments requires collaboration across disciplines, a shared understanding of the challenges and a clear focus on measurable outcomes.About AndyAndy is an experienced Digital Strategist, Enterprise Architect and Technology Lead with over 20 years of experience across health and social care sector. He specialises in defining future-state technology visions, developing strategic roadmaps and delivering large-scale enterprise solutions across national and international organisations. This has included major digital transformation initiatives and several international new hospital programmes, most recently contributing to the NHS New Hospital Programme, where the focus is on embedding digital at the heart of future healthcare and operational delivery.About SCFH. A modern approach to health consultingWe combine strategic advisory with hands-on delivery, across data, digital and technology, helping health, life sciences and public sector organsisations improve outcomes, productivity and long-term value. Our diverse team brings together deep industry expertise, innovative thinking and a shared commitment to delivering outstanding results for our partners.

Andy Brett

19 October 2026

Blog

Beyond go-live: Realising value from digital investment

How do we turn digital investment into measurable benefits for patients and frontline teams?It’s a question that comes up frequently in healthcare, and one I had the opportunity to explore in September when I joined the “Is your ROI real?” panel discussion at the DNV Digital Health Summit, hosted in partnership with Stifel and EY-Parthenon.There continues to be significant digital investment in healthcare, with technology expected to improve productivity, transform ways of working and support better experiences and outcomes for patients and staff.But investing in and implementing technology is only part of the challenge. The real measure of success is whether it delivers the benefits we set out to achieve, and whether those benefits can be sustained beyond implementation.For me, that means looking beyond go-live.Technology alone doesn't deliver transformationA successful go live is important, but it isn't the same as successful transformation.Realising the benefits of digital investment requires us to be clear from the outset about what we're trying to achieve, how we'll measure it and who is responsible for making it happen.It also means giving teams the capacity, support and governance they need to embed new ways of working. Without that, there is a risk that technology is implemented successfully but the anticipated benefits don't fully follow.Transformation is a team sportOne of the messages that stayed with me from the summit came from Stephen McAdam's closing speech:It's a simple phrase, but it captures something fundamental.Successful transformation can't sit with one team or function. It requires clinical teams, operational colleagues, digital specialists, technology partners and delivery teams to work towards the same outcomes.That shared responsibility needs to continue beyond implementation. Go-live shouldn't mark the point at which attention moves elsewhere; it's often where the work of embedding change and realising value really begins.If we don't have data we can trust, it becomes incredibly difficult to understand whether an investment has genuinely improved productivity, patient experience or clinical outcomes.That means agreeing meaningful measures early, establishing clear baselines and continuing to track progress after implementation.ROI in healthcare also needs to be considered more broadly than a purely financial calculation. Time released back to frontline teams, improved workflows, better staff experience and improvements in patient care can all represent significant value.Looking beyond go-liveFor me, one of the biggest takeaways from the discussion was the importance of thinking about benefits realisation as part of transformation from the beginning, not something we measure retrospectively.At SCFH, this is central to how we approach transformation. We bring healthcare teams and technology partners together to agree what success looks like and share responsibility for delivering it beyond go-live.Ultimately, the value of digital investment isn't the technology itself.About TajaTaja Quigley is a Partner at SCFH, where she helps organisations reimagine care models through digital innovation. With experience tackling complex challenges across the NHS and public sector, she brings together clinical insight, technology, and delivery to build health systems that work smarter for patients, clinicians and the wider population.SCFH. A modern approach to health consulting.We combine strategic advisory with hands-on delivery, across data, digital and technology, helping health, life sciences and public sector organsisations improve outcomes, productivity and long-term value. Our diverse team brings together deep industry expertise, innovative thinking and a shared commitment to delivering outstanding results for our partners.

Taja Quigley

12 October 2026