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Designing technology to improve quality of life for people with dementia: user-led approaches

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Abstract

This paper addresses the design of assistive technology that specifically aims to support an improvement in the quality of life of people with dementia. Starting from interviews with users, a grounded theory approach was used to compile a wish list of issues important for maintaining quality of life. A large list of potential technologies that could address these issues was generated, and four were selected for initial development: a music player, a device to reduce social isolation, a conversation prompter, and a device to support sequences of tasks. The music player and social isolation device are described in this paper in detail. A user-led approach to their design was followed, including approaches to finding control interfaces that were intuitive for people with dementia. The paper concludes with a list of recommendations for designers looking to develop equipment of this kind.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the EPSRC for the funding for this work through their EQUAL programme, and the many people with dementia and their carers who helped guide the progress of the project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bath Institute of Medical Engineering, Bath University, Bath, UK

    R. Orpwood & J. Chadd

  2. Research Institute for the Care of Older People, Bath, UK

    D. Howcroft

  3. Gerontology Research Centre, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada

    A. Sixsmith

  4. Department of Architecture, Sheffield University, Sheffield, UK

    J. Torrington & G. Chalfont

  5. Department of Primary Care, Liverpool University, Liverpool, UK

    G. Gibson

Authors
  1. R. Orpwood
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  2. J. Chadd
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  3. D. Howcroft
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  4. A. Sixsmith
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  5. J. Torrington
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  6. G. Gibson
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  7. G. Chalfont
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Orpwood.

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Orpwood, R., Chadd, J., Howcroft, D. et al. Designing technology to improve quality of life for people with dementia: user-led approaches. Univ Access Inf Soc 9, 249–259 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-009-0172-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-009-0172-1

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