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HUG: A Compassionate Approach to Designing for Wellbeing in Dementia Care

Author

Listed:
  • Cathy Treadaway

    (CARIAD, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff CF5 2YB, UK)

  • Abdul Seckam

    (CARIAD, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff CF5 2YB, UK)

  • Jac Fennell

    (Department of Architecture and the Built Environment, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK)

  • Aidan Taylor

    (CARIAD, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff CF5 2YB, UK)

Abstract

Design can improve the quality of life of people living with dementia but creating successful design solutions is not simple, due to the complexity of the medical condition, and the ethical considerations of including those affected in design research and evaluation. This article describes research involving an interactive product, ‘HUG’, developed from academic research, to support the wellbeing of people living with advanced dementia, which is now commercially available. People affected by dementia were included at every stage in the design research process. The evaluation of HUG took place in both hospital and care home contexts with 40 participants living with dementia. In this paper, a qualitative hospital study is described, in which patients received a HUG on prescription. Findings reveal that although HUG was rejected by some, those patients who did accept it benefitted significantly. Not only did the device reduce distress, anxiety and agitation but it also helped with patient compliance in medical procedures, aspects of daily care and enhanced communication and socialisation. The Alzheimer’s Society’s accelerator partnership funding has enabled this product to be manufactured and made commercially available so that the benefits of this academic design research can be made more widely available to people living with dementia.

Suggested Citation

  • Cathy Treadaway & Abdul Seckam & Jac Fennell & Aidan Taylor, 2023. "HUG: A Compassionate Approach to Designing for Wellbeing in Dementia Care," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-15, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:4410-:d:1084930
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