Standing position of three concepts in supporting independence for the elderly with dementia.
Design is important*
・Design is more than creating a physical environment to combat the disorders associated with dementia. This includes professionals working on standards, practices and behaviors, and dementia people themselves changing the way they interact with the environment in a friendly way.
・Age-related changes, sensory disorders, mobility disorders, cognitive disorders and their combinations increase the difficulty of understanding and navigating in the surrounding environment and the risk of falls, significantly reducing function, behavior, independence and the quality of life. Therefore, we understand the disabilities of the elderly and people with dementia and so support their needs.
Adoption of the robot care equipment at long-term care sites **
・In the care practice, the adoption of robot care equipment is one of the effective options from the viewpoint of reducing the burden on care staffs and attendants.
・ It is necessary to consider multiple factors when selecting equipment regarding the characteristics of the device, consents to users and family members, consideration for how to use the device and the consideration for privacy etc.
Co-creation between the providers and the elderly with dementia
・ It can be planned to accumulating data, building a PDCA cycle, and shift to the efficient and high-quality care based on quantitative, qualitative and scientific grounds, although there is a certain burden on care staffs and facilities. **
・ Solutions (designs, standards, nursing robots) desired by elderly people with dementia will be implemented in society in a sustainable manner with various options. ***
・ Database management (DB) for sharing acquired data, privacy matters, and establishment of a system for commercial use will be considered. ***
*Stirling university, DSDC Dementia https://www.dementia.stir.ac.uk/design
**"Support for introduction of nursing care robots and demonstration research project of introduction effect" project implementation report 2018 March Elderly Support Division, Health and Welfare Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare
***Dementia Innovation Alliance WG 2021 Secretariat Material Future Dementia
Innovation Alliance Working Group Initiatives Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Healthcare Industry
Three concepts and how to interact with elderly people with dementia.
In reference to the measures of the Dementia Measures Promotion Charter (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare), the main service provision space and environment focusing on user experience (UX) centric to elderly people with dementia is set up as a pilar.
Then, in consideration of the convenience of other users, likely co-creation and intersection methods with Barrier-free, Universal design, Smarting, Dementia friendly architectural design at home and abroad, Guidelines and advanced cases and Support robots that have been demonstrated and implemented remarkably in recent years and the utilization of big data
obtained through the spread of smart devices / ICT are presented.