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Project Work

In order to be of benefit for people with dementia, technology has to be designed and chosen with uttermost care, and user requirements must be made available.

The requirements were organised within the framework of the principles for universal design (http://www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/) in order to be easily accessible to designers and producers of new technology. Under each principle, the specific needs and requirements of people with dementia were listed.

A brief description from the general requirements (Outi Mäki, TED Project):

Good products and technical solutions for people with dementia often have the following characteristics:

They give a feeling of independence to the person
They support the person in making choices
They have a positive impact in her/his life
They support the skills maintained and do not emphasise lost skills
They remind of solutions that existed before
The use of the products is possible by the information visible/available at all times

The specific methodology for the assessment studies was based upon user centred approach and on existing expertise on dementia in the consortium.

The assessment studies were carried out in all five partner countries: Ireland, England, Finland, Lithuania and Norway. People with mild to moderate dementia tested products in their own home for a year, and assessments included the effect of the products on them, as well as on their carers.

Products were only offered to the users after a thorough individual needs- and desire-evaluation. Each country, as well as the entire consortium, was responsible for carrying out the research in compliance with ethical principles and specific regulations in the respective countries.

Enabling products for people with dementia

This is the web site of an exciting research project which was aimed at "marrying the new with the familiar" when developing and introducing new technology to people with dementia and their carers.

Quality of Life

The project aimed at facilitating independent living of people with early dementia and to promote their wellbeing through access to enabling systems and products. Pleasure, memory support, entertainment and own activity were key words in the project.

Five countries, wide experience

The partners were situated in England, Ireland, Finland, Lithuania and Norway, are interdisciplinary and had wide experience in dementia care and research, technology development and human factors.

The project was funded under the EC Programme Quality of Life and living resources, and lasted for three years, starting in March 2001.

Funded by the European Commission under the Programme "Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources", Contract No. QLK6 - 2000 - 00653

Last updated:
24-Oct-2008