Two years after its formal end, the MinD project partners are still working together to make available all the valuable data collected with people with lived experience during the project. MinD addresses the social needs of people with early to mid-stage dementia living in the community. MinD has used the concepts of design and mindfulness to develop innovative design solutions that support people with dementia with self-empowerment and social engagement. MinD had three phases: data collection, design development, and evaluation. Each stage featured user participation to help develop the project’s outcomes. The paper published now summarises key insights collected during Phase 1, which have provided the basis for much of the later co-design work. These insights were not only key to the development of the project’s design ideas but also a shift to a more inclusive and salutogenic perspective. Here is the summary of the paper, which was co-authored by Alzheimer Europe Project Officer Ana Diaz:
Living Well with Dementia: Feeling Empowered through Interaction with Their Social Environment
This study was designed to advance our understanding of how feelings of empowerment in people living with dementia still residing at home can be promoted. We conducted qualitative interviews with 12 participants with mild-to-moderate stages of dementia in Germany and Spain as part of a European study on mindful design for dementia. A qualitative thematic content analysis was performed to elicit the key features of the experience reported by the interviewees. Three overarching categories were identified: the first category ‘experiencing changes in personal life and coping with changes in life’ covered losses and coping strategies; the second category ‘retaining a sense of usefulness‘ included social participation and the need for activities with others; the third category ‘feeling empowered’ covered reflections on lifetime achievements, accomplishments in the present life, being in control and self-worth. Participants placed a strong emphasis on continuity and on the importance of making active decisions and meaningful social contributions. Empowerment within the person living with dementia was achieved through their interactions with their social environment, including the significance of communication about their needs and wishes and enabling shared decision-making and interactions with others in reciprocity. The paper can be seen, here: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/12/6080
Further information on the MinD project is available from the project website: http://www.designingfordementia.eu
For any questions or suggestions about the MinD project and its activities, please contact Professor Niedderer at k.niedderer@mmu.ac.uk
