Me and My Future
A space to explore what matters – now and in the future.
Me and My Future is a warm, practical toolkit designed to help people living with dementia share what truly matters to them, both now and in the future. Through a gentle, person-centred approach, it creates space for meaningful conversations about values, daily life, relationships, wellbeing, and future wishes.
The kit combines beautifully designed posters, questions, photocards, postcards and a take-home resources to spark reflection and make it easy for people to express what’s important in their own words and at their own pace.
Whether used in a group session or one-to-one, the toolkit helps families, carers, and professionals listen more deeply and plan care that genuinely reflects a person’s priorities. By turning conversations into shared understanding, Me and My Future supports dignity, independence, and choice, helping ensure that people’s voices remain central to their lives and care, even as their needs change.
Some elements of the kit:
Printed materials to introduce key themes and spark meaningful conversations in different settings.
Take-home resources to help people reflect on key themes and capture what matters to them.
Visual and interactive elements to make conversations more engaging, accessible, and meaningful.
A guide containing clear instructions, session plans, conversation prompts, and activity ideas.
Identifying the Need
The need for tangible, practical tools to help people with dementia express their preferences and make informed decisions about their care was identified through the Sheffield Neighbourhood Dementia Partnership, led by Michelle Wilde (Dovercourt Group Practice).
Co-creation and Early Development
Professor Claire Craig and design researcher Helen Fisher (Designed with Care) collaborated to co-create solutions to the challenges being faced. In 2022, with the support of Michelle Wilde and Dr. Claire Whitehead (Sheffield Teaching Hospitals), a series of workshops were held to design, develop, and test the content of the tools.
Input and Prototyping
Input and feedback from people living with dementia were central to the process. Practitioners, including occupational therapists, dementia specialists, care home staff, nursing staff, and support workers, were also instrumental in shaping the design. Their contributions led to the creation of a prototype kit in 2023.
Piloting and Wider Collaboration
In 2024, 10 kits were piloted across different settings, including care homes, community groups, hospitals, and people’s homes. In 2025, drawing on further feedback and collaboration with organisations such as AgeUK, Compassionate Sheffield, SACHMA, Darnall Wellbeing, and SOAR, this toolkit was finalised.
Design Principles
We have paid particular attention to the design of each element, ensuring accessibility and inclusion remain at the heart. Our aim was to strike a balance: creating resources that resonate with individuals while remaining broad andflexible enough to be used by a wide range of people and contexts.
Co-design workshops within communities
Sheffield Life Loss and Death Festival 2025
What People Are Saying
“I want to take it home to think about it and maybe talk to my family. I need to take it with me because there is so much to think about.”
— Group Member
“As a facilitator I was apprehensive as this can be an emotive topic. However, the quality of the pack helps to relieve this.”
— Group Facilitator
“It’s been refreshing to start these conversations” … “I took away an ‘open door’ that’s always been shut.”
— Event attendees
Each box includes:
16 Theme Posters
16 Question Posters
80 Question Postcards
4 Sets of Photocards
10 Take Home Booklets
1 Digital Guide
