Designing for well-being in late stage dementia

Abstract

The chapter presents insights gained through the process of participatory research to discuss how “Compassionate Design Approaches” are being used to support well-being specifically in relation to dementia. It presents innovation in the field via the LAUGH research project, addressing issues of memory impairment, perceptual and communication difficulties, boredom and social isolation due to the effects of the disease. The chapter includes the theoretical approaches, exploring issues related to procedural memory including, touch, playfulness, craft making, and access to emotional memories. It identifies key themes in relation to subjective well-being, new ways to support well-being providing an exemplar study related to the medical humanities with concepts that inform beyond the specifics of dementia.