SPARK i-Remember Poster by Marissa Wilson

Designing to Remember: Designing Environments & Products to Improve Quality of Life for those with Dementia

Icons from thenounproject.com sources:

Icons from thenounproject.com

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sources:

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dementia stats

Some references are cited with a number. Some references are cited with a number.

Alzheimer’s, A. (2015). 2015 Alzheimer's dise

the journal of the Alzheimer's Assoc 2)

Balode, L. (2013). The design guidelines for

You can identify the source by looking aton thehere. number on here. You can identify the source by looking at the number = 1 million people 3)

References 1)

architecture, 2, 114-119.

Breslow, L. (Ed.). (2012). Encyclopedia of Pub Library, 1-112.

References

Chenoweth, L., King, M., Jeon, Y., Brodaty, H.

(2009). Caring for Aged Dementia Ca Alzheimer’s, A. (2015). 2015 Alzheimer's disease facts and figures. Alzheimer's & dementia:

Alzheimer’s, A. (2015). 2015 Alzheimer's disease facts and figures. Alzheimer's & d

care, dementia-care mapping, and u

the journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 11(3), 332.

In 2010, 36 million people lived with some form of dementia worldwide (2)

The Lancet Neurology, 8, 317-325. do the journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 11(3), 332. Those are between 3.2guidelines million women make upsensory gardens. The number of people Alzheimer’s 2) with Balode, L. (2013).isThe design for therapeutic Landscape 5) 5)who HRQOL Concepts. (2011, March 17). Retri 75-84 years old gardens. make up Landsca 2) 20Balode, Themillion design guidelines sensory the 5.1 people age 65 for andtherapeutic w.cdc.gov/hrqol/concept.htm expected to double every years L. (2013). architecture, 2, 114-119. of those 6) 43% Hurley, D. (2012). with 'Village of the Demented' older who have Alzheimer’s (1) Year: 2030 = 65.7 million 2, 114-119. 3) Breslow, L. (Ed.). architecture, (2012). Encyclopedia of Public Health: SZ (Vol. 4). MacMillan Reference Today, 12-13 Alzheimer’s (1) Year: 2050 = 115.4 million (2) 7) Marquardt, G., Bueter, K., & Motzek, T. (2014 3) Breslow, L. (Ed.). (2012). Encyclopedia of Public Health: SZ (Vol. 4). MacMillan Refe Library, 1-112.

Data from 2015 says 5.3 million people are living with Alzheimer’s in America (1)

on People with Dementia: An Eviden

dementia

Behavior

D., Rouch, I. (2014). Initial and long-t

The source of disruptive behavior is caused by the executive control functions in the frontal lobe of the brain (Morgan & Stewart, 1997). Behaviors are built up and7) learned over time through stimuli in the environment. These learned behaviors facilitate the expression of habitual responses that lead to either appropriate

care, dementia-care mapping, and usual care in dementia: A cluster-rand

or inappropriate responses with the Products make up the environment Humans form relationships with products, surrounding environment. When the(2011, March 17). and also influence behavior. Product 10, 2015, and designers can count on these 5) HRQOL Concepts. Retrieved November from http://ww executive control function of the brain is design includes “material objects that relationships to inspire their designs damaged like it isw.cdc.gov/hrqol/concept.htm in dementia, a person may we physically interact with and these (Rompay & Ludden, 2015). For example, become more distracted, and has to rely on interactions are constrained by our the visual, material, or interaction environmental cues or differences for help sensory and bodily characteristics” and the connection the user Hurley, D. (2012). 'Village of the Demented' draws praise as a newproperties care model. Neurology (Morgan & Stewart, 1997). (Rompay & Ludden, 2015, p. 2). identifies with them can provide meaning that can form a relationship with that Today, 12-13 Therefore, it is important to keep these Our world is consumed with products object, or product (Rompay & Ludden, key behavioral elements in mind when everywhere, and anywhere. A chair, 2015). Marquardt, Bueter, K., & Motzek,aT. (2014). Impact of the aDesign of the Built Environment designing for dementia:G., decrease disturbing blanket, an iPhone, a toothbrush, behavior, increase social behavior, increase computer, the Lyft ride app, Netflix, the Product design invloves the Design on People withand Dementia: An Evidence-Based HERD: Health Environments activity, and increase positive feelings, Internet – all of these thingsReview. are products. Thinking Process that utilizes 5 steps, and decrease negative feelings (Lawton, 2001). The only thing that is not a product is was created by the CEO’s of the design firm, IDEO, David Kelly and Tim Brown. Research & Design Journal, nature. 8(1), 127-157.

The Lancet Neurology, 8, 317-325. doi:DOI:10.1016/S1474- 4422(09)70045

w.cdc.gov/hrqol/concept.htm

2. DeFIne

Understanding Empathy in Design & Research.

Define the Problem or Challenge:

Empathy “reflects the natural ability to perceive and be sensitive to the emotional states of others, coupled with a motivation to care for their well-being” (Decety, Bartal, Uzefovsky, Knafo-Noam, 2016, p. 1). It is a complex cognitive ability that allows one to be able to put the subjective perspective of another person in mind in order to understand and feel what they think and feel (Decety et al., 2016). It is crucial for designers to understand the users they are designing an environment or product for in order for it to be successful for the people who will be using it (the end-user). I have been volunteering at Best Friends, an adult day care that people with Alzheimer’s can go to in order to empathize with the user.

There are no current treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease, and it affects 1 out 9 Americans who are 65 and older. It will continue to increase and affect double the amount of people by 2030 because of the rise in the baby boomer population.

Marquardt, G., Bueter, K., & Motzek, T. (2014). Impact of the Design of the Built En

Pongan, E., Freulon, M., Delphin-Combe, F., Dibie-Racoupeau, F., Martin-Gaujard, G., Federico,

on People with Dementia: An Evidence-Based Review. HERD: Health Envir

D., Rouch, I. (2014). Initial and long-term evaluation of patients with Alzheimer’s after

Research & Design Journal, 8(1),units: 127-157. hospitalization in cognitive and behavioural The EVITAL study design. BMC PROJECT: To design a product that can improve the 8)

Pongan, E., Freulon, Delphin-Combe, F., Martin-Gaujard, Psychiatry, 14(308), quality of 1-6. lifeM.,for people withF., Dibie-Racoupeau, Alzheimer’s disease.

D., Rouch, I. (2014). Initial and long-term evaluation of patients with Alzhe

Journey Map

MUSIC MEMORY for ALZHEIMER’S hospitalization in cognitive and behavioural units: The EVITAL study desig epressed n: D o i ot m

3. IDEATE

Brainstorm a Solution: How might we design a product that uses music to improve the quality of life for people with Alzheimer’s?

Wil liam ’s

1. Empathize

Hurley, D. (2012). 'Village of the Demented' draws praise as a new care model. Ne Today, 12-13

design thinking process 1. Empathize + 2. Define + 3. Ideate + 4. Prototype + 5. Test

5) HRQOL Concepts. (2011, March 17). Retrieved November 10, 2015, from http:/

appy n: H o i ot m

There are no current treatments, preventions, or cures for dementia that are5) known (Alzheimer’s, A., 2015). However, there are design interventions that can improve the behaviors of those with Alzheimer’s.

Symptoms seen in those with Alzheimer’s include, memory loss that interrupts daily life, challenges in developing or solving problems, difficulty achieving familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure, confusion of time or place, trouble comprehending visual images and spatial relationships, difficulty with new problems involving words in speaking or writing, misplacing items and losing the ability to retrace steps, poor judgment, removal from work or social activities, and changes in mood, behavior, and personality, including apathy and depression (Alzheimer’s, A., 2015).

Psychiatry, 14(308), 1-6.

Wil liam ’s

One’s consciousness is not disturbed, but a person’s cognitive functions are impaired, which can lead to deterioration of emotional control, social behavior, and motivation (Breslow, 2012).

products Chenoweth, L., King, M., Jeon, Y., Brodaty, H., Stein-Parbury, J., Norman, R., Luscom

8) Pongan, E., Freulon, M., Delphin-Combe, F., (2009). Caring for Aged Dementia Care Resident Study (CADRES) of person-centred

care, dementia-care mapping, and usual care in dementia: A cluster-randomised trial. and beh hospitalization in cognitive (2009). Caring forOur Aged Care Study (CADRES) of perso WorldDementia is Consumed withResident Products Anywhere & Everywhere. The Design of the Environment Affects Dementia & Behavior. Psychiatry, 14(308), 1-6. The Lancet Neurology, 8, 317-325. doi:DOI:10.1016/S1474- 4422(09)70045-6

Dementia is Not a Normal Part of Aging. Dementia is a neurocognitive chronic and progressive disorder of the brain. It is classified as a disturbance of the brain’s ability to function properly because it causes a decline in a person’s memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning capacity, language, and judgement (Breslow, 2012).

Chenoweth, L., King, M., Jeon, Y., Brodaty, H., Stein-Parbury, J., Norman, R., Luscombe, G. Journal, 8(1), 127 Research & Design Library, 1-112.

William is Happy

William, 93 years old Alzheimer’s patient living in a residential care facility who has to have constant care. Does not communicate well and seems disconnected with others.

William is overwhelmed with happiness. His caretaker has never seen him show this much emotion, and he has not felt this way since he has been in the care facility. William wants to keep the iPod so he can listen to it all the time - so he can remember.

Product Demographics

William tells his Story

For people who have Alzheimer’s, or other memory loss issues. The majority of those with Alzheimer’s are ages 75-84+, but symptoms can develop around age 65 or younger.

William begins to tell us some of his life story, and the feelings he experienced while listening to the music. He was able to do this because the music brought back his emotional memories. He has not spoken this much or this clearly to anyone in months.

An iPod with a playlist created speciﬁcally for William from songs he and his family chose based on his younger life experiences and connections.

William begins to happily cry because of the emotions he felt while listening to his favorite music. Areas in his brain begin to associate the lyrics and melodies with certain experiences and memories from William’s life.

Product - iPod

William Remembers

William begins to Sing and Dance

Product Need

Brainstorm and Bring Ideas to Life

To improve quality of life - Music is one of the last things people can remember who have Alzheimer’s. Hearing lyrics and melodies from songs can bring back memories due to the connection music has with both emotional and other areas of the brain.

William starts humming and begins mumbling the words until he can remember the lyrics. He starts bouncing, and moving his ‘jazz’ hands all around. William has not shown this much emotion and positive behavior for years, since being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

William’s Journey

William begins to Listen

William has been very melancholy during his stay at the care facility. William’s caretaker gives him an iPod ﬁlled with music from his generation. He is confused, but allows his caretaker to explain to him what it is and puts on the headphones.

William’s face immediately lights up as he listens to his favorite jazz band from the 1930’s. The caretaker has not seen him look or feel this happy ever since he has been here.

Emotions & Language

Memories

4. product design ideas My Proposed Solution

Key Business Goals

Primary Markets

Assumptions

Constraints

Stakeholders

- To design an electronic game and handheld device that incorporates music and movement into a gaming system similar to the Wii

- To improve the quality of life for people with Alzheimer’s - to help them remember - To sell the product to Alzheimer’s care facilities - Potentially sell product to business markets

- Care facilities for Alzheimer’s - Those who have Alzheimer’s

- Caregivers would be more satisﬁed at work seeing their patients show happiness - Those with Alzheimer’s would show emotions, feelings, share memories, and remember their past lives - while having fun

- Money to prouce product - Convincing healthcare professionals and care facilities of the value of having music as a part of the healthcare system - Government funding

- Healthcare professionals & researchers - Dementia & Alzheimer’s physicians - Caregivers - Family

Images: http://video.fandango.com/FandangoMovies/381142-1_1600x1200_2463597382_gen.jpg

Secondary Markets

- Family - Other companies and businesses that could sell the product to public

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Music & Memory Music is associated with autobiographical memories that involve episodic information, or personal experiences from objects, people, and events that occur in life. Music is correlated with autobiographical information when a person hears a significant song, is talking about a song, or thinks about events in life in which a song was an important part of (Jäncke, 2008).

Listening to songs can create strong emotional feelings. Hearing music triggers systems in the brain that involve processing memories. Music interacts with the right hemisphere of the brain, and the limbic system, which is located on the left side of the brain, and deals with emotions and language (Wall & Duffy, 2009). Music is encoded by the perceptual and verbal parts of the brain (Jäncke, 2008).

Melodies and rhythms are encoded by the perceptual memory system, and the verbal part. Lyrics are encoded by the semantic memory. Semantic memory helps us identify songs or melodies that are familiar by remembering the name of a song, or humming to a melody. Music is also associated with the semantic language memory which can help with producing and remembering language for those with dementia (Jäncke, 2008).

Music has strong power over emotions and our cognitive system, and should be used in clinical settings that need memory-enhancing therapies. The affects that emotional music has over a person can be used as a tool to enhance cognitive performance in people with dementia (Jäncke, 2008). Combining music with personal photographs can enchance memories even more, allowing a person with Alzheimer’s to hopefully remember his or her life story.

I Remember App I Remember is an app designed to help people with Alzhiemer’s remember their life story. The goal is to help them remember their life through personalized photos and songs set up in the app’s memory library by their caregiver. Music is one of the last things to stay in a person’s memory, so a person with Alzheimer’s can recall songs and lyrics from past experiences. Personal photographs associated with songs create emotional responses and connections to the certain memory of an event, person, or object that is being displayed on an iPad, iPhone or Tablet screen.

Gripper Handle Case The gripper handle case that goes around the tablet or iPad was designed for older adults to be able to fully grasp the device with confidence. Older adults have challenges with fine motor skills that involve and grabbing and holding onto objects. There are handles on both sides of the case that can provide users with a more comfortable interaction, and hold of the iPad or tablet while operating it. The actual material would be a firm rubber-like gel material that has a bumpy surface similar to the one that was used. Although this case does not, the final case would have a clear screen protector with it as well.

5. Test all prototypes out below!