The simple act of choosing a meal is a quiet declaration of self. It is a moment of pleasure, of autonomy, of expressing a fundamental human desire. But for millions of people living with dementia, neurological disorders, or profound learning disabilities, this simple choice is a daily impossibility. The printed words on a traditional menu can be a meaningless jumble, a verbal question, or a confusing sound. In this silent space, choice gives way to assumption, and dignity can quietly erode, often leading to a devastating cascade of malnutrition, dehydration, and a loss of independence. Aisha Purvis, a specialised Mental Health Nurse and a healthtech founder, has spent her life standing in this silent space, and she has made it her mission to fill it with a new language, one that is spoken not with words, but with the senses.
Her company, Sensmart Ltd., is built on a revolutionary idea that was born not in a boardroom, but at the intersection of two deeply personal worlds: the sterile, methodical reality of the hospital ward, and the warm, loving chaos of her own kitchen table. She is a woman who has witnessed the clinical consequences of malnutrition and has felt the personal ache of trying to nourish a loved one who cannot speak. From this dual perspective, she has created Numenyu®, a multi-sensory menu that is more than just an innovative product. It is a bridge, a translator, a tool that is restoring the simple, profound, and essential human right to choose.
The Two Tables
Aisha’s journey into healthcare began at the age of 18, as a care assistant supporting people with dementia. It was a world of hands-on care, of learning to anticipate needs and to find connection beyond conversation. By 21, with a Level 5 Leadership and Management qualification, she was a care home manager, responsible for individuals with complex and degenerative conditions. It was an early and intense education in advocacy, in service improvement, and in the immense responsibility of caring for the vulnerable.
This path led Aisha to train as a Mental Health Nurse, a role that took her to the frontlines of a struggling system. She saw firsthand how patients and their families grappled with challenges around communication, dignity, and nutrition. While studying, she worked a range of jobs, from agency support worker to senior nursing assistant, gaining broad exposure to a variety of care settings. Today, she works as a specialised Nurse within eating disorder services at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, a role that gives her a unique insight into the complex relationship between mental health and nutrition.
Parallel to this professional journey was a deeply personal one. At home, Aisha was a carer for her stepdaughter, Millie, who has Rett syndrome and is non-verbal. At one stage, Millie’s nutritional intake was dangerously poor, and she was suffering from malnutrition. It was the very same crisis Aisha had witnessed so many times in her clinical practice. The two tables, the one in the care home and the one in her own home, had become one. The professional and the personal had converged, strengthening her resolve to find a solution to a problem that was causing so much silent suffering.
An Idea Born of the Senses
The origin of Sensmart Ltd., founded in March 2021 in Newcastle Upon Tyne, was a direct response to this dual experience. Aisha had seen the devastating impact of malnutrition, which can sometimes even lead to death, when individuals could not communicate their food preferences. The gap in the system was painfully clear: there were no accessible, inclusive tools to support choice and independence around food.
From this need, Numenyu® was born. It is the UK’s first multi-sensory menu, a groundbreaking tool designed to empower individuals with cognitive or physical impairments. What makes it unique is that it is the first menu to incorporate olfactory stimulation alongside visual, tactile, and other sensory cues. For someone living with dementia, the scent of a meal can trigger a memory or an appetite in a way that a written word never could. For someone with a learning disability, tactile cues can make options easier to recognize and understand. It is a product built on a profound empathy for the lived experience of its users, a tool that transforms the dining experience from a moment of potential confusion and frustration into one of joy, inclusion, and independence.
The Ripple Effect of a Simple Choice
The problem Aisha is tackling is not a small one. Malnutrition is estimated to cost the UK healthcare system over £7.7 billion each year, with the extra care costs for a single patient ranging from £1,400 to £5,000. These are the staggering financial consequences of skipped meals, poor hydration, and the resulting hospital admissions.
Numenyu® offers a simple, elegant, and deeply human solution. For Sensmart’s clients, who include care homes, healthcare teams, and families, the tool is a way to prevent this crisis before it begins. By allowing individuals to express their food choices more easily, it directly improves nutrition and reduces the risk of avoidable hospital stays. The impact is a powerful ripple effect: the daily quality of life for the individual is improved, the emotional and practical strain on carers is eased, and the immense financial burden on the healthcare system is lessened. It all begins with restoring the simple power of a choice.
From Kitchen Table to Clinical Trial
One of Aisha’s proudest moments was seeing Numenyu® move from an idea conceived at her kitchen table to a product being piloted in real care settings. This journey from concept to a credible, scientifically backed venture has been marked by a series of strategic partnerships and prestigious recognitions.
At Sensmart, innovation and safety are seen as inseparable. She credits the vital support of networks like the Super Innovation Network powered by UMI, the AHSN/HINENC, and mentors such as Claire Robinson and Sarah Cox for helping guide her journey. Aisha has worked closely with the North of Tyne Local Authority, the National Innovation Centre for Ageing, and the Internet of Caring Things programme. She has secured NHS real-world evaluations and collaborates with Dr. Anthony Watson at Newcastle University and the Nutrition and Exercise Centre to ensure that all of her work has a strong scientific foundation.
This commitment to excellence has not gone unnoticed. She was featured by the BBC with Dr. Ranj, a moment that brought her mission to a national audience. She has secured her first intellectual property patent, a critical step in protecting her innovation. On International Women’s Day, her work was honored by Barclays Bank with an award for her outstanding contribution to entrepreneurship. And in a testament to her growing influence, she was invited to a round table discussion with the Department of Health and Social Care.
The Heart of a Leader
Aisha’s leadership journey has been a profound test of resilience. Bootstrapping a start-up while simultaneously working as a nurse, continuing her studies, and caring for her family was an immense challenge. That challenge became almost insurmountable in May 2024, when she lost her brother to suicide.
“Balancing grief with responsibility forced me to dig deep, lean on resilience, and be honest about my limits,” Aisha reflects. “What I learned is that leadership isn’t about pretending to have it all together, it’s about showing up authentically, asking for support when needed, and staying committed to the mission even in the hardest times.” This devastating personal loss strengthened her resolve to lead Sensmart with an unshakable commitment to empathy and transparency.
The Next Course
The future for Sensmart is focused on scaling its impact. The next major milestone is digitising Numenyu® with an app that will run alongside the physical menu. This app will provide nutritional guidance, create compliance records, and allow patients to choose their meals directly. It will also support monitoring and auditing systems to track food waste and reduce costs, delivering measurable benefits across the healthcare system. At the same time, her team is exploring how AI, sensory design, and nutritional science can shape future tools tailored to individual needs.
Aisha is particularly excited about her ongoing collaborations with the National Innovation Centre for Ageing, the Internet of Caring Things programme, Leeds University, and Newcastle University. These partnerships ensure that as Sensmart grows, its work remains scientifically grounded and ready for wider market expansion. Her vision is clear and powerful: “to make mealtimes more inclusive worldwide and ensure no one is left unheard at the table.”
The Habit of Excellence
When asked about work-life balance, Aisha calls it a “constant juggle.” She finds her equilibrium in the small moments: time with her family, being outdoors, cooking, reading, and playing the piano. These are the pauses that keep her grounded and give her the energy to lead, to care, and to create.
Her leadership philosophy is encapsulated in a belief that has guided her through every stage of her journey: Anyone can be anything they want to be with the right motivation. It is a belief that echoes the wisdom of Aristotle, a quote she lives by: “We are what we repeatedly do—excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” For Aisha Purvis, leadership is not a single act of inspiration, but a daily habit of showing up with persistence, empathy, and authenticity. Her remarkable journey shows that you do not need to have all the answers to start. You just need the courage to begin.
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