LAUGH: Designing to enhance positive emotion for people living with dementia

Treadaway, Cathy; Kenning, Gail; Prytherch, David; Fennell, Jac

Abstract

Dementia comprises a number of degenerative neurological diseases. It is a complex condition and each person’s experience and symptoms are different. There is a growing awareness of the need for well-designed products and services to assist with dementia care and to enhance wellbeing. This paper presents research investigating the design of playful objects for people with late stage dementia. The investigation described is a preliminary stage in the LAUGH (Ludic Artefacts Using Gesture and Haptics) project; an AHRC funded international, interdisciplinary design research project. People living with dementia, informal and professional carers, health professionals, art therapists, charity representatives, arts practitioners and designers are informing the research through a series of expert group participatory workshops and case study interviews. Observation, discussion, video, photography and investigation. Findings presented in this paper focus on the importance of emotional memory and emotional expression in the care of people with late stage dementia; the value of sensory triggers and props to stimulate emotional remembering; and the importance of designing to promote high quality social connections.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (published)
• Conference Name: International Conference on Design & Emotion
• Acceptance Date: Mar 1, 2016
• Publication Date: 2016
• Deposit Date: Mar 4, 2021
• Pages: 37-44
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/7174994
• Publisher URL: https://www.laughproject.info/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/LAUGH-Design-Emotion-paper.pdf
• Additional Information: Treadaway, C., Kenning, G., Prytherch, D and Fennell, J., (2016) 'LAUGH: Designing to enhance positive emotion for people living with dementia', in Desmet, P., Fokkinga, S., Luden, G., Cila. N., and Van Zuthem, H. (eds.) Celebration and Contemplation (Proceedings of Design and Emotion International Conference 2016, 27-30 September). The Design and Emotion Society, pp. 37-44.