The role of augmented paper in dementia care

• Grant number: 19/14706-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2019
• End date: December 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Industrial Design - Product Design
• Principal Investigator: Paula Costa Castro
• Grantee: Larissa Taveira Ferraz
• Supervisor: David Mark Frohlich
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Surrey, England
• Associated to the scholarship: 18/19718-2 - Design to connect: digital storytelling for support communication between people with dementia and caregivers, BP.IC

Abstract

Cognitive decline and functional disabilities that occur with the onset of dementia have a major impact on the life of the person and their caregivers. As the condition progresses, the need for meaningful social interaction and support for care coordination becomes greater for all caregivers. Communication barriers arise, which increase the stress of the person with dementia and the caregiver, both in long-term care institutions as at home. A multisensory approach to interaction, such as digital storytelling, can be used to recall life history activities, as well as informing their caregivers about the well-being of the person with dementia. Technology can be a bridge to improve quality of life and quality of care in the daily context of dementia. Augmented books have the ability to transmit in digital book format, information from exclusively digital platforms; this is a type of technology that is little explored in the context of health. The purpose of the present research internship abroad is to develop augmented books of digital storytelling and information platforms for caregivers of people with dementia. This may help in the context of care and communication between health care staff, family members and people with dementia. (AU)