Abstract
As the global population of people with dementia increases, the demands relating to their care are growing (Pedroza et al., 2022). Existing literature reveals that certain textiles offer potential benefits for dementia care, such as assisting interactions, facilitating communication (Bast, 2021), providing sensory stimulation (Gaudion, 2010; Jakob & Collier, 2017a; Jakob et al., 2019; Kim, 2021; Ten Bhömer, 2016), supporting reminiscence (Pöllänen & Hirsimäki, 2014), and promoting positive emotions, including reducing stress and anxiety (Killick & Kenning, 2015; Nartker, 2022; Treadaway et al., 2020). Currently, although designers are familiar with traditional textile design, there is limited understanding of or experience with the specific challenges, considerations and design guidelines for designing interactive textile products to benefit dementia care (Ashour, 2021; Kärnä-Behm & Harjuniemi, 2023; Kim et al., 2019; Zhang et al., 2022).This PhD project explores textiles as a medium to assist with interactions and provide stimulation for people with moderate to advanced dementia. In view of the considerable number of people with dementia, who commonly experience loneliness and boredom (Gardiner et al., 2020), it is important to understand how textile interaction can benefit them (Boumans et al., 2022). This thesis provides design considerations and recommendations, explicating how textile interactions can engage people with dementia, and assist in providing playful and meaningful activities.
The research methodology, which combines action research and design thinking, was adopted to investigate and facilitate the design of textile products to assist interaction with people with dementia. This research applied a user-centred design approach that engaged with various stakeholders (n=27). The research methods involved a systematic literature review, observations of people with dementia going about their daily activities, prototyping of textile products, usability testing with dementia participants, and semi-structured interviews with both people with dementia and related stakeholders, including carers, recreational officers, occupational therapists and dementia advisors/advocates. Specifically, the systematic literature review included 139 publications from the past two decades, focusing on interactive textiles and dementia, to understand the current research status and formulate the research design. To gain empathy towards people with dementia, the observations were conducted in two local residential aged care homes in Canberra, Australia, providing insights into user needs and preferences. The design of the interactive textile prototypes was informed by a literature review, and seven categories of interactive textile prototypes were made and subsequently tested with people with dementia.
The novel insights generated from this PhD research include design considerations for designing products made from interactive textiles for people with dementia, as well as various suggestions for engaging people with dementia. The research project explores what and how textiles can be used to assist with interactions and describes the importance of forging connections between people with dementia and their past, bolstering familiar associations, emotional relations, recognition and personal preferences. This research also emphasises the significance of implementing a user-centred design approach and underscores the value of interdisciplinary participation and ongoing stakeholder engagement in the design process to innovate design solutions. Overall, this research advances understanding of the potential affordances of interactive textiles in dementia care and provides insights for designers, care providers and policymakers to improve the wellbeing and quality of life for people with dementia.
| Date of Award | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Supervisor | Damith HERATH (Supervisor), Eddi PIANCA (Supervisor), Nathan D'CUNHA (Supervisor) & Livio BONOLLO (Supervisor) |