Easing the Transition: Dementia in the Home

Abstract

Dementia, a chronic and progressive disorder of the brain, affects 50 million people worldwide. There are no current successful treatments, preventions, or cures for dementia. This thesis focuses on the design of a set of products that aim to improve the quality of life for individuals in beginning stages of Dementia. By designing simple sets of products that can be easily installed into the individuals’ homes, the individuals are able to cope with early issues of dementia while in their home, the place in which they are most comfortable. These products, designed through a set of identified design principles, also ease the transition to a memory care facility.