Dementia Services Development Centre

What Dementia Services Development Centre does

Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) is a knowledge exchange centre established in 1989 within the University of Stirling, Scotland, and is part of the Centre for Environment, Dementia and Ageing Research (CEDAR). Over more than 35 years, DSDC has translated dementia research into practice for care providers, designers, manufacturers, healthcare professionals, family carers, and policymakers across the UK and internationally, including Kenya and Finland. Its core offering is structured around four pillars: training and education (Best Practice in Dementia Care Learning Programme, Being Dementia Smart undergraduate module, and specialist courses on topics such as LGBTQ+ inclusivity, music, and meaningful engagement); accreditation services (EADDAT-based Building Accreditation and Product Accreditation, using an evidence-based design assessment toolkit); care and design consultancy for organisations; and free public resources including the Carers Hub, Dementia-friendly Map, Dementia-friendly House and a Lived Experience Panel.

The centre's underlying technology is the proprietary Environments for Ageing and Dementia Design Assessment Toolkit (EADDAT) — an evidence-based framework used for building audits and accreditation, which underpins the closest thing DSDC has to a scalable standard. Other technical assets are domain-specialist training curricula and content libraries, a self-serve online training and Eventbrite distribution layer, and a body of publications and research outputs co-developed with international partners (Dementia Alliance International, Folkhälsan, IMPACT Scotland). DSDC does not disclose APIs or software products beyond the EADDAT toolkit.

DSDC operates as a non-profit academic unit of the University of Stirling rather than a standalone commercial entity. It has no external equity investors and no headcount disclosure; revenue is generated through paid training courses (including facilitator certification), consultancy engagements, building and product accreditation fees, institutional and grant funding (including The Dementia Fund), and donations. Pricing is course-based with some free community workshops and paid lived-experience research participation. Customer segments span care organisations, designers/architects, manufacturers, individual carers, and researchers, with a hybrid marketing approach spanning content marketing, organic social, webinars, events, and partnerships.

Name

Dementia Services Development Centre

Legal name

Dementia Services Development Centre

Website

https://dementia.stir.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dementia Services Development Centre is a knowledge exchange centre at the University of Stirling that translates dementia research into practice through training, accreditation, and consultancy for care providers, designers, manufacturers, and families across the UK and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dementia Care Training and Design Consultancy

NAICS

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (623311), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (6233), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331), Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (623312), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Educational Support Services (61171), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (8051)

akta.pro primary industry

Dementia Care Coordination & Care Planning (HSABAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Caregiver Training & Dementia Coaching (HSABAEAI), Dementia Companion & Engagement Care (HSABAEAA), Dementia Personal Care (ADLs) Support (HSABAEAB), Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) with Memory Care (HLADACAD), Alzheimer’s Specialized Care (Mid/Late-Stage) (HSABAEAC)

Keywords

• Dementia care training
• Dementia design consultancy
• Building accreditation services
• Ageing research knowledge exchange
• Dementia workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

Stirling

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Training and Education Services: DSDC generates revenue through training courses, workshops, and educational programmes including online courses, calendar training, Best Practice Programme, Being Dementia Smart module, and Advanced Study options. They also offer paid facilitator training for organisations.
2. Consultancy Services: Care and Design Consultancy services provided to care providers, designers, manufacturers, and organisations seeking dementia expertise.
3. Accreditation Services: Building Accreditation (EADDAT) and Product Accreditation services for organisations meeting dementia design standards.
4. University Funding: As part of University of Stirling, DSDC receives institutional funding and has access to research grants including support from The Dementia Fund.
5. Donations and Fundraising: DSDC accepts donations to support free dementia education workshops and dementia research through The Dementia Fund at University of Stirling.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

DSDC is a University of Stirling knowledge-exchange centre that translates dementia research into paid training programmes, accreditation services built around its proprietary EADDAT assessment framework, and expert Care & Design consultancy. It sells the Best Practice in Dementia Care Learning Programme and other short courses to care providers, offers Building and Product Accreditation using EADDAT to architects and manufacturers, and delivers bespoke dementia-inclusive design and care consultancy to organisations in the UK and internationally. Free public resources (Carers Hub, Dementia-friendly Map, Dementia-friendly House) and a Lived Experience Panel extend its reach to family carers and people living with dementia.

Product overview

Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) is a knowledge exchange centre at the University of Stirling offering a comprehensive portfolio of services focused on improving lives of people with dementia. The portfolio is structured around four interconnected pillars: (1) Training and Education - including the Best Practice in Dementia Care Learning Programme, Being Dementia Smart undergraduate module, and specialist courses (Music and Dementia, LGBTQ+ Inclusivity, Intersection of Dementia and Design, Meaningful Connection); (2) Accreditation Services - Building Accreditation using the EADDAT toolkit and Product Accreditation for dementia-friendly products; (3) Consultancy - Care & Design Consultancy for organisations; and (4) Resources - including Carers Hub, Dementia-friendly Map, Dementia-friendly House, and Lived Experience Panel. The centre translates research into practice through evidence-based resources, consultancy, and education for professionals, carers, designers, manufacturers, and researchers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Environments for Ageing and Dementia Design Assessment Toolkit (EADDAT) Evidence-based toolkit used to improve environments for the ageing population and people living with dementia, and as the foundation of DSDC's Building Accreditation service.
• Building Accreditation Accreditation service that audits and certifies buildings and environments against DSDC's EADDAT dementia-friendly design standards, awarding Gold, Silver or other audit levels.
• Product Accreditation Accreditation service that evaluates and certifies products used by people with dementia against DSDC's design standards for dementia-friendly use.
• Best Practice in Dementia Care Learning Programme Award-winning training programme (with paid facilitator certification) that teaches care providers to deliver high-quality, person-led dementia care, with workbook materials and facilitator licensing.
• Care & Design Consultancy Expert consultancy supporting organisations with dementia care practice and dementia-inclusive environmental design, delivered directly to care providers, designers, and manufacturers.
• Being Dementia Smart Undergraduate module for nurses and paramedics at the University of Stirling, the first in the UK to include dementia design education as part of clinical training.
• Intersection of Dementia and Design Training Course Online training course covering dementia design principles including Light Reflectance Values (LRVs), accredited by RIBA for CPD.
• Meaningful Connection and Engagement in Dementia Care Training Training course delivering person-led care approaches, communication skills, and meaningful engagement techniques for people living with dementia.
• Music and Dementia Training Course Training course exploring how music can meaningfully contribute to the lives of people living with dementia.
• LGBTQ+ Inclusivity in Ageing and Dementia Training Training course addressing the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals living with dementia and providing skills for culturally competent care.
• Advanced Study Advanced educational opportunities in dementia and ageing for postgraduate students and professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Joan Lyon (person living with dementia) delivers lectures to hundreds of nursing and paramedic students, changing perceptions of dementia among future healthcare professionals.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic, established and demonstration.

• IMPACT Team ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 January 2026IMPACT is the UK Centre for implementing evidence in adult social care. Scottish team based at University of Stirling supports projects across Scotland including co-producing quality service standards framework with Meeting Centres Scotland and improving living grief support with Carers of West Lothian.
• Dementia Alliance International (Environmental Design Special Interest Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADEPT study (Architecture for Dementia in Education, Practice, and Training) led by Dr Martin Quirke, in partnership with DAI's Environmental Design Special Interest Group, ensuring lived-experience leadership and co-production.
• Alzheimer's Dementia Kenya (ADOK)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerADOK is a non-profit established in 2016 by caregivers, working to raise awareness of Alzheimer's and provide support across Africa. Partnership focuses on dementia-friendly community development in Kenya.
• Dedan Kimathi UniversitystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Dedan Kimathi University in Kenya, represented by Simon Githui, Psychiatric Nursing lecturer specialising in neurocognitive diseases. Includes guest lectures on dementia design and knowledge exchange.
• SSAFA (The Armed Forces Charity)establishedGTM or Marketing PartnerFor over 10 years, DSDC has provided specific dementia education training to veterans, case workers and volunteers who support people living with dementia.
• ZeDTechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-wide research network aiming to improve how new technologies are designed so they feel useful, supportive, and low-effort for people living with dementia. DSDC hosting workshops as part of this network.
• Meeting Centres ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in IMPACT Scotland project for co-producing quality service standards framework for people with dementia.
• Carers of West LothiancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in IMPACT Scotland project for improving living grief support for people with dementia and families.
• FolkhälsanstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest Swedish-speaking organisation in Finland with Strategic Development Plan 2026-2030 focusing on housing for older people and people living with dementia. Delegation visited Scottish Outer Hebrides for research into dementia care models.
• Broomhill GardensdemonstrationStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity centre in Greenock exemplifying successful application of dementia design principles. Created in partnership with INCH Architecture & Design and Inverclyde Association for Mental Health.
• University of Stirling (Needs Rounds Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Liz Forbat leads research into Needs Rounds, developed from Australian model and adapted for UK use. Integrates learning into palliative care practice.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Age UK: National charity for older people offering training, information and services supporting ageing in place. Comparable caregiver training and elderly support services, with overlapping family carer and care provider audiences.
• Alzheimer's Research UK: UK dementia research charity funding research and translating findings into practice. Overlaps with DSDC's knowledge-exchange and research-to-practice mission and shares the University/research partner ecosystem.
• Alzheimer's Society: Largest UK dementia charity delivering training programmes, accreditation-like quality markers (e.g. Dementia Friendly Communities, training for care staff) and dementia-inclusive design guidance. Comparable audience across care providers, families and professionals.
• Dementia UK: UK charity providing specialist dementia nursing (Admiral Nurses), training and family-facing support. Highly comparable mission and beneficiary base, with a similar training-and-support model aimed at families and care professionals.
• Carers Trust: UK charity network supporting unpaid carers, including those caring for people with dementia. Comparable training, family carer education and resource hub offerings, with a similar B2C and B2B carer training model.
• Dementia Alliance International: Global advocacy organisation led by people living with dementia. DSDC partners with DAI's Environmental Design Special Interest Group on the ADEPT study, and both centre the lived-experience voice in research and training.

Others

• RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects): Professional body for architects that accredits CPD providers (DSDC's Intersection of Dementia and Design course is RIBA CPD approved). Adjacent enabling partner rather than direct competitor, shaping the architectural audience DSDC serves.

Broad incumbents

• The King's Fund: Independent health and care think tank working on older people's services and dementia policy. Comparable influence on dementia training and care quality, but with a much broader health system remit beyond dementia-specific services.

Emerging players

• Innovations in Dementia: UK community interest company focused on dementia involvement and co-production. Overlaps with DSDC's Lived Experience Panel and participatory training programmes, though smaller in scale and more advocacy-oriented.

Regional players

• Baycrest: Canadian academic health sciences centre focused on ageing and dementia, combining research, training and care delivery. Comparable academic-affiliated model delivering dementia education and design guidance, but serving North America rather than the UK.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dementiacentre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/dementia-stirling
• Instagraminstagram.com/dementia_stirling
• Facebookfacebook.com/dementiaservices

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dementia Services Development Centre