13/10/2026 0 Comments
HealDem - Swift and Safe Support to Strengthen Health Literacy for People with Mild Cognitive Impairment (Dementia) and Informal Caregivers
This article was translated from Norwegian by an AI tool, and proofread before publishing.
KBT Vocational college takes the lead on Nordic-Baltic Collaboration on Dementia and Health Literacy
KBT Vocational College has been granted Nordplus Adult funding for a new collaborative project aimed at strengthening health literacy among people with mild cognitive impairment, early-stage dementia, and their informal caregivers. The project, titled “Swift and Safe Support to Strengthen Health Literacy for People with Mild Cognitive Impairment (Dementia) and Informal Caregivers,” will run from September 2026 to August 2028.
The project brings together five partners from Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Estonia. KBT Vocational College serves as the project coordinator and is responsible for overall project management, as well as the development of support materials for people living with dementia and their caregivers. The partnership also includes the University College of Northern Denmark, Mid Sweden University, Tartu Health Care College, and the Estonian Dementia Competence Centre. At KBT Vocational College, Roger Santokhie is involved in the project.
Accessible and Reliable Information
When a person begins experiencing symptoms of cognitive impairment or dementia, it can be challenging to find, understand, and use relevant information about health, services, and support systems. This applies both to the individual affected and to family members or other close caregivers.
The project will develop short, practical, and easy-to-understand resources designed to help people navigate everyday life and interactions with health and care services. The goal is to support informed decision-making, future planning, and the maintenance of safety, independence, participation, and quality of life for as long as possible.
The materials will be developed in collaboration with people living with dementia, caregivers, and professionals through national user groups in all participating countries. This approach to user and caregiver involvement will help ensure that the resources address real needs and are effective in practice.
Expected Outputs
Throughout the project period, the partners will develop:
- Support materials for people with mild cognitive impairment, early-stage dementia, and their caregivers, available both digitally and in print.
- Concise guidance materials for health and social care professionals, volunteers, and others who will introduce and use the resources.
- An implementation strategy tailored to each participating country.
- Short instructional videos in multiple languages.
- An open-access project website in English and the partners’ national languages, providing access to materials, information, and video resources.
- An international webinar that will be recorded and made available for future use in education, training, and professional development.
- Improved tools and resources for health and social care education programmes, services, and organisations to promote health literacy within the field of dementia care
KBT Vocational College’s Role
KBT Vocational College leads Work Package 1, which focuses on the development of support materials. The vocational college will establish a digital collaboration platform, coordinate work with national user groups, and lead the development of resources aimed at people living with dementia and their caregivers.
The project builds on KBT Vocational College’s experience in lived-experience expertise, user involvement, peer support work, and health literacy. In the longer term, the project outcomes may be integrated into the college’s educational programmes, courses, and development initiatives, further strengthening its expertise in dementia care and health literacy.
Nordic-Baltic Added Value
The countries involved in the project have different experiences with dementia strategies, service provision, and support for caregivers. By working together across national borders, the partners can share knowledge, learn from diverse practices, and develop solutions that meet local needs while drawing on a common evidence base.
The collaboration aims to contribute to more dementia-friendly communities, improved support for caregivers, and greater awareness of health literacy within health and care services. It will also help establish a lasting Nordic-Baltic network focused on dementia, health literacy, and adult education.
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