Healing spaces: Feasibility of a multisensory experience for older adults with advanced dementia and their caregivers

Gabriela Purri R. Gomes, Sydney Rubin, Leah I.Stein Duker, Donna Benton, Andreas Kratky, Sze Yu A. Chen, Maryalice Jordan-Marsh, Marientina Gotsis

Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceedingConference proceedingpeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Healing Spaces proposes a new approach to multisensory interventions that show potential in ameliorating the behavioral and psychological symptoms of advanced dementia in older adults. Using smart technology, the project combines both digital and physical components to transform spaces and create unified, curated sensory experiences that provide meaningful context for interaction, and are easy for caregivers to deliver. A usability study was conducted for the Healing Spaces app followed by a feasibility evaluation of the full experience in a memory care facility recruiting caregivers, and residents in advanced stages of dementia. The feasibility evaluation successfully illuminated strengths as well as areas for improvement for the Healing Spaces experience in a memory care setting with older adults with advanced dementia. Caregivers and facility managers expressed interest in continuing to use Healing Spaces with the residents of the facility. Lessons learned about the technical and logistical implementation of Healing Spaces are discussed, as well as future directions for study design and potential therapeutic value of the experience.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationPETRA '20
Subtitle of host publicationProceedings of the 13th ACM International Conference on PErvasive Technologies Related to Assistive Environments
PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery (ACM)
Pages174-182
Number of pages9
ISBN (Electronic)9781450377737
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Jun 2020
Event13th ACM International Conference on PErvasive Technologies Related to Assistive Environments, PETRA 2020 - Virtual, Online, Corfu, Greece
Duration: 30 Jun 20203 Jul 2020
https://dl.acm.org/doi/proceedings/10.1145/3389189 (Conference proceedings)

Publication series

NameACM International Conference Proceeding Series
PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery (ACM)

Conference

Conference13th ACM International Conference on PErvasive Technologies Related to Assistive Environments, PETRA 2020
Country/TerritoryGreece
CityCorfu
Period30/06/203/07/20
Internet address

Scopus Subject Areas

  • Software
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
  • Computer Networks and Communications

User-Defined Keywords

  • user-centered design
  • smart environments
  • multisensory environments
  • caregiving
  • dementia
  • older adults
  • wellness

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