About Us
We have a unique skill set which combines; advanced fellowships in brain health, dementia and architecture, alongside the lived experience of working closely with families and people living with dementia.
DDS was established in 2017 by Greg and Fiona Walsh to improve medical and clinical outcomes for the elderly and those living with dementia through design.
In 2018, Greg and Fiona were made Fellows of the Global Brain Health Institute at Trinity College, Dublin and UCSF, San Francisco. They worked and researched with world leaders in brain health to advance the understanding of the links between cognitive function and design. Their work shows that design can either accelerate cognitive and functional decline or support it.
To date they have worked on audits of towns and cities, health and care facilities and houses to determine how suitable they are for the elderly and those living with cognitive, sensory and/or physical impairments. This work has led to design changes in dementia units, care and nursing homes, housing, schools and hospitals.
Alongside this work, Greg and Fiona also provide training programmes for physicians, carers, families and design professionals on the link between design and brain health.
Biographies
Fiona Walsh B.Arch FRIAI RIBA ARB Senior Atlantic Fellow in Brain Health, Global Brain Health Institute is a practicing chartered architect of distinction holding two Fellowships, one in architecture and one in neuroscience/ brain health. Fiona has combined this knowledge to advance the understanding of how to design better and more operational efficient buildings, that support senior living and people living with cognitive and sensory deficits.
Her work has been published in the Lancet Neurology and the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. She has written audit reports and community design guides for the National Dementia Office, Ireland and blogs on design for Alzheimer’s Disease International. She is an international speaker on inclusive design and dedicates much of her time to advocacy work creating awareness of the importance of inclusive design in supporting cognitive and functional abilities.
Fiona co-founded DDS Architects that specialises in designing inclusive environments: master planning, access consultancy, interior architecture and design.
Greg Walsh BA(Hons)Bus. Studies, Dip.Bus.Mgt, Atlantic Fellow Global Brain Health Institute, has 20+ years working in the healthcare sector, for US multi-nationals based in Switzerland, US and Canada. He has worked in partnership with patients, governments, health authorities and physicians with great success, resulting in better patient decision making, improved clinical outcomes and lower health system costs. In 2018, Greg was made an Atlantic Fellow of the Global Brain Health Institute (www.gbhi.org) for his work in dementia design. In 2019, Greg completed a residential Atlantic Fellowship in brain health with the GBHI in Trinity College Dublin and UCSF, San Francisco. Greg lobby’s governments and global bodies to incorporate dementia design into national dementia strategy.
Senior Fellows of the Global Brain Health Institute
Fiona and Greg Walsh are fellows of the GBHI based at Trinity College, Dublin and UCSF, San Francisco. We have developed a deep understanding of the clinical needs and lived experience.
Our research has shown that early design intervention supports cognitive function, independence and improves the standard of health and well-being for the individual while reducing operational and care costs.
Poor design results in accelerated cognitive and functional decline; increasing health and care costs.
Our work is outcomes focused, evidence based and truly person centric.
Advocacy Work and The Lived Experience
Advocating at the Government Level
The Houses of the Oireachtas
Greg and Fiona Walsh after presenting to the Houses of the Oireachtas at Lenister House, Ireland. The impact of the environment on older people and people living with cognitive and/or sensory impairments.
Pictured with Senator Joan Freeman, Prof Ian Robertson, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Trinity College Dublin, and Prof Sean Kennelly, geriatric and stroke consultant physician.
Creating Awareness Within Communities
#understandstandtogether Conference
Today our community supports dementia and are standing together to create a more inclusive society for people living with dementia, cognitive and or sensory impairments. More than 120 key stakeholders attended our conference, which aimed to make West Berkshire a more inclusive environment, whilst also reducing health and social care.
“I am delighted to have chaired the day and to be appointed chairman of the West Berkshire DAA. A big thank you to all the volunteers in the DAA who made the day possible.” – Greg WalshA
Let us remove the obstacles in the way of doing the right thing.
Read the Understand Stand Together report – click here to read.
