SOCIAL INNOVATION COMPETITION ENTRY // 2015 ALI JAHAN SARAH IMRAN SHEFIELD NG
CONTENTS
RESEARCH
SCHEDULING
DESIGN CONCEPT
DEMENTIA CARE
PHASE 01 RESEARCH
PHASE 01 Research
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Statistics NUMBER OF PEROPLE WITH DEMENTIA IN POPULATIONS OF LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME COMPARED TO HIGH INCOME
Introduction Dementia is a category of brain disease that may range from minor memoroy problem to completely forgetting oneself. This causes harm to not only the person suffering from dementia but also the people around them, most commonly their family members. The trend of dementia is seen to be on the rise and methods to reduce the
rate of dementia progression are being researched. Interior design is one method that may allow the family and the patient to live harmoniously together. Therefore, since dementia will only get worse, our aim is to reduce the rate while providing a fruitful environment for everyone.
Millions Of People With Dementia
150 125 100 75
LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME
50 25
HIGH INCOME 0 2013
2015
2020
2025
2030
Year
70K
2035
2040
2045
2050
Dementia statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2015 from http://www.alz.co.uk/research/statistics
280K 2036
2015
NUMBER OF ELDERLY WITH DEMENTIA IN HONG KONG
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NUMBER OF ELDERLY WITH DEMENTIA IN HONG KONG
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PHASE 01 Research
Age group 65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85+
TEAM TG009 //
Prevalence rate % 1.4 2.8 5.6 11.1 23.6
HOW TO PREVENT DEMENTIA? Reduce the risks of getting the disease and slow down brain degeneration in the elders
OUR DESIGN MISSION
SAFETY STANDARD ENERGY EFFICIENCY SPACE USAGE
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTIVENESS COST-EFFECTIVENESS
RECALL OF HAPPY MEMORIES /
NOSTALGIC EFFECT 1 MAINTAIN HEALTHY DIET
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2 KEEP MENTALLY ACTIVE
CARING DESIGN FEASIBILITY CONVENIENCE
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PHASE 01 Research
TEAM TG009 //
Needs of people with dementia
Dementia patients have various needs from requiring help while cooking to not being able to communicate properly. The needs only increase as dementia gets worse as time goes by. Their ability to process memories decreases and so they are unable to slowly recognize even their loved ones. Due to this, they also tend to have unstable emotional levels, and may often depict bipolar behavior because they are unable to get their message across.
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Their logical thinking skills start to get affected and simple calculations may take them much longer to solve than before. In the long run, dementia patients may have an overall change in personality and thus may increase the workload of all the people living around them. This causes people to start to develop difficulties in treating the patient with care which is not beneficial for anyone.
Dementia care and design
Caring for dementia patients through the use of design is a method that many scientists around the world are starting to promote. By improving the quality of life of the dementia patients, we are able to give them a happier experience in their later years. As designers, we can design for the long run of the dementia patients, taking into accounts what they like and dislike and making the overall environment more open and “Homey� for them. Caring does not mean holding their hands at each step and making the environment like an instruction booklet, it means that we give them their space and independence and allow them to feel in control of themselves. This boost in self-confidence is good for their well-being and allows the people living together with them a sense of security as well as dementia patients are prone to getting into harmful situations.
Another key design feature often implemented is to bring back memories of the past and induce nostalgia. This is a strong feeling as people with dementia tend to remember their early memories better than short term memories. This jolt of memories allows the patients to exercise their brain which drastically slows down the rate of dementia degradation. This also means that design must incorporate ways of keeping new memories as well. In our design we have introduced a polaroid. A simple camera that keeps memories of that moment. This allows the user to store the photos and look at them from time to time with dates on them which helps them recall recent events and makes them happier to be able to remember recent activities they may have done with their loved ones.
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PHASE 02 SCHEDULING
PHASE 02 Programming
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PLAN
SCHEDULING WEEKDAYS // MON-FRI
ZONES BEDROOM DINING ROOM LIVING ROOM KITCHEN BATHROOM
Weekday
DAD
SON
ELDERLY
House Zone Bedroom/ Bathroom
Morning
Leaves for work
Leaves for school
Leaves for elderly homecare center
Afternoon
At work
Returns home
At homecare
Unoccupied
Evening
Returns home assists in cooking
Returns home, Helps prep. dinner, Study
Returns home and cooks
Dining/ Kitchen
Night
Preparing for bed, Housework, Family gathering
Entertainment, Family gathering, Preparing for bed
Housework, Family gathering
Bedroom/ Livingroom
WEEKENDS // SAT-SUN Weekday Morning Afternoon Evening Night
DAD
SON
ELDERLY
House Zone
Taichi, Eating outside
Sleep
Taichi, Eating outside
Bedroom/ Unoccupied
Go out
Go out
Go out
Unoccupied
Guests arrive, helps prepare meal
Guests arrive, buy ingredients
Guests arrive, prepare food
Kitchen/ Dining
Play games, bond
Play games, bond
Play games, bond
Dining/ Bedroom
PLAN CIRCULATION
SCALE 1:50
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PHASE 03 THE DESIGN
PHASE 03 The Design
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PHASE 03 The Design
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TEAM TG009 //
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PHASE 03 The Design
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TEAM TG009 //
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PHASE 03 The Design
SCALE 1:50
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TEAM TG009 //
SCALE 1:50
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PHASE 03 The Design
SCALE 1:50
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TEAM TG009 //
SCALE 1:50
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PHASE 03 The Design
HAPPY MEMORIES AND CARING DESIGN Bringing back nostalgic memories is one of the core parts of our design concept. Strategically chosen areas of the home are geared towards bringing back the old memories of our dementia patient. From photos of loved ones to the familiar kitchen tiles to intricate Chinese design elements. The variety of elements encompass different senses of the human body which enables us to trigger more of her memories that are linked with her past activities. Taking the specially crafted Chinese screen as an example, its primary purpose is to separate the living space with the sleeping space. However due to its Oriental essence, it helps give a feel of the 1970s era where the Oriental design were commonplace and booming. Every morning when she awakes, she can see the design and feel more connected with the home. A synergetic feature to the
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TEAM TG009 //
screen is that it’s made of wood. This gives out a special wooden aroma which further triggers memories from the past when wooden furniture used to be the trend. Around the apartment, it is easily noticeable how we can find photo frames with family pictures that depict all the past happy events in the life of our patient. These are there not only for the elderly woman but also for the rest of the family members as a reminder to always keep smiling and to keep family bonds strong. Furthermore, we have also an activity with a polaroid specifically design to capture the new happy memories that will be made for the years to come. In the sleeping space, there is an area dedicated to new memories that will utilize a simple polaroid which is in itself an antique, point-andshoot camera that brings back memories and is a tool for snapping new memories. The films from the Polaroid are then attached to the wall with mini notes on them. This activity is for the whole family and specially focused for the
grandma so she has another type of brain stimulation. As for how our concept involves a caring design aspect, we have ensured that ease of access of various objects and tools for maximization of individuality of the grandma is maintained throughout the design while also reducing the effort required by the other family members in terms of household chores. Features such as smart utensils compartment and the table of games is are there to cater for the needs of the family.
Dementia will get worse but with all the different elements focused at improving the quality of life in one way or another will help her slow down the process and live happily.
In the kitchen for example, we have made the utensil sorting extremely easy to prevent any misplacement of objects such as knives that may potentially harm the patient or other people. Such simple yet innovative furniture can help all members of the family. In simple words, bringing nostalgia, keeping new memories safe and making life easier for everyone in the family is the top priority.
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PHASE 04 DEMENTIA CARE
PHASE 04 Dementia Care
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BEDROOM SCALE 1:50 SCALE 1:50
q
w r e q
q w t SLIDING BED q Simple, easy to use. Allows for flexibility of area and a more spacious feel
w ELDER’S CABINET Refreshing sunlight and easy access lets her have a sense of belonging and her own designated storage
AREA A space where new memories e POLAROIDS can be kept
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q STORAGE r UPPER For clothes and books of both father and son
t
BEANBAG CHAIR
t For father to come and bond. Share stories and read to his son
q
The bedroom’s main purpose is to take rest. A place where the son and the grandma can share stories SCALE 1:50There is also a bean bag in the and experiences. corner that allows the father to join in each night for a family reunion before going to bed. This allows for communication and love to be built. The personal cupboard of the grandma houses her belongings like photos, clothes, books and other items she holds dear. The screen again plays a role of keeping the area more private yet allowing visibility of the living and dining room so that the elderly can always know where she is and not feel confined. Due to the large windows, the lighting here is relatively low in power and thus saves cost for the family.
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PHASE 04 Dementia Care
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BATHROOM SCALE 1:50 SCALE 1:50
u q r w
t e
q y The toilet is designed with color contrast and visual stimulation with a touch of nostalgia in mind. It allows the SCALE 1:50 elderly woman to easily spot the toilet seat and the tiles make her feel like back in the old HK days. The design care for her age thus has a seating for her to rest while taking a shower. The design however is also modern as beneath the traditional looking tap, we have designed an automatic timer that shuts off the water tap after a specified time limit in case anyone forgets to shut off the tap. This is a great marriage between traditional design with smart home technology.
q SEAT q SHOWER Allows the elderly to sit while
BAR Helps standing/sitting of elderly r GRAB from toilet
CURTAINS w SHOWER Contrasting shower cabin for
TAPS Nostalgic taps that remind of t SIMPLE old Hong Kong.
taking showers to reduce standing time
prevention of wetting the bathroom
COLORED TOILET SEAT
e Easily recognised for elderly and contrasting with the surroundings
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MOSAIC TILES
effect of traditional y Nostalgic mosaic styled tiles
q Covering mirror u A mirror that can be covered with space for toiletries
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PHASE 04 Dementia Care
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LIVING ROOM SCALE 1:50 SCALE 1:50
w q q
t e q
q
r
y
u
q To ensure safety of the elderly q SOFA-BED at night, it is the place where father sleeps
w
ANTIQUE CEILING FAN
Saves energy and serves as an illuminance. A blast from the past for memory triggering and better efficiency than typical fans
PHOTO WALL
memories from old e Happy photos
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Keeping general items or r ARM-TABLE drinks when of sofa with
u SCREEN Nostalgic screen allows for a
harmonious entry view. can be used to put pictures or hang polaroids.
reading lamp
LIGHT Automatic and dimmed at lux t GUIDANCE level comfortable for sleeping but bright enough to guide to the bathroom during night
FRIDGE
for spacious feel y Placed and easy access. Labelled
q
The living room is kept simple yet functional. It has a ceiling fan that out from the past. It has lights fitted onto itSCALE that allows1:50 extra lighting to the living space of needed. The sofa is a foldable bed where the father will sleep. This give an extra layer of security in the event if the elderly wakes up at night and tries to leave the home, the father may prevent that from happening. The photo wall also extends to the living space allowing for reminiscing the past and reliving the memories. This is perfect for the guests who may come and enjoy the photos on the wall with interesting conversations about the past events. The spaciousness prevents the elderly from feeling claustrophobic as well while she is on the dining table or the sofa. Simplicity of the living room is the way to go in a limited space.
with visual cues of food for recognition. Top can be used for storage
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PHASE 04 Dementia Care
TEAM TG009 //
KITCHEN SCALE 1:50 SCALE 1:50
t
q
e
w
w
q
q q
r q Simple microwave with easy to q MICROWAVE use instructions
MACHINE Under counter for better r WASHING aesthetic looks of the kitchen
UTENSILS SORTER Easy sorting of utensils while w SMART preventing misplacement
CUPBOARDS Improves visibility of what’s t SEE-THROUGH stored inside for better
RAIL LIGHT
more light for better e Allows vision while cooking
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judgement for elderly woman
q
Cooking is where the heart lies of the grandmother and it couldn’t have been easier. The ingenious utensils sorter SCALE that acts as a1:50 secondary stimulant for the elderly woman to put the correct utensil in the correct place helps her keep her brain up while cooking. It’s a spacious design with all the cupboards above the counter and keeping the base relatively empty to allow good circulation of air. A fume hood for the stove was essential as the kitchen is small thus harmful gases may build up quickly if no ventilation system is installed. The cupboards are all with glass front panels that allow the elderly woman to easily recognise all of her spices and ingredients. The washing machine is nicely tucked underneath another counter that serves as space for keeping dishes and other food items.
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PHASE 04 Dementia Care
TEAM TG009 //
DINING ROOM SCALE 1:50 SCALE 1:50
t
q
y
w r q q
y
e q TABLE In-built games for familial q GAMES interaction
WALL The wall of photos from the r PHOTO past for happy memories
TRADITIONAL CHINESE SCREEN
bedroom from dining w Separates room and gives a traditional chinese feel to the home with woody smell
e RUG Adds a different texture to the
floor with warmth effect during winter and another Chinese element.
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LIGHT Soft focal lighting for the dining t PENDANT area. Subtle finish
WALL MOUNTED TV
for entertainment but is y Allows not the focal point of the house.
q
The main area of the home where all the family gathers every day for food. The idea of separating the bedroom with the dining room by a traditional patterned screen 1:50 isSCALE a smart way to achieve many benefits. Firstly, the screen itself acts as a separator for the private area for sleeping while still allowing light to pass through to the dining and living room. The wooden structure also accentuates the overall home color scheme. The screen also allows for placements of small mementos and photos of loved ones. The wall the frames of historic photos is also another stimulant for the whole family. It allows the family to reflect at their happy past and enables family communication while having dinner. Another feature for happy family time in the dining room is the games table. The dining table has compartments for 4 traditional board games that are enjoyed by all ages, thus it allows for extra interaction between the family especially the grandson and the grandmother.
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Bibliography Dementia statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2015, from http://www. alz.co.uk/research/statistics Hong Kong urged to conduct local research into dementia. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2015, from http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1691667/hong-kong-urged-conduct-local-research-dementia Dementia - a global epidemic. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2015, from http://visual.ly/dementia-global-epidemic Virtual Care Home. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2015, from http://dementia.stir.ac.uk/design/virtual-environments/virtual-care-home Hong Kong Alzheimer’s Disease Association. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2015, from http://www.hkada.org.hk/disease_01.php?lang=eng#.VO9hRfmUecI JCCPA - About Dementia. (n.d.). Retrieved February 26, 2015, from http:// www.jccpahk.com/en/facts_on_dementia/what_is_dementia/about_dementia/index.php
Yeoh, R. (2004). Dementia Care and the Built Environment (Vol. 3). Australia: Alzheimer’s Australia. Andrews, J. (Ed.). (2013). Improving the design of housing to assist people with dementia. Scotland: The Publishing Bureau. McManus, M. and McClenaghan, C. (2012) Hearing, sound and the acoustic environment for people with dementia McNair, D. et al. (2010) Light and lighting design for people with dementia Marshall, M (2010) Designing balconies, roof terraces and roof gardens for people with dementia Pollock, R. (2012) Designing interiors for people with dementia Pollock, A. and Marshall, M. (2012) Designing outdoor spaces for people with dementia