Conversations at the edge of play

Media, communication and cultural intersections with dementia

Bibliographic Data

ID12341865
AuthorsGail Kenning (0000-0002-3379-9088, ,, corresponding author), Cathy Treadaway (0000-0001-8325-3318, ,)
Year2017
Volume31
Issue6
Pages868-880
Publication date2017-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueContinuum (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1030-4312 • E-ISSN: 1469-3666
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10304312.2017.1370075
OpenAlexW2752678347
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited22

The mean age of the global population is increasing significantly. Incidences of dementia are also predicted to rise and this will impact society as a whole as well as individuals, who will find they are primary carers for one or more family members with the disease. Dementia carries a stigma and is not openly discussed. Discourse continues to be led by bio-medical approaches that focus on the need to ‘fight’ the disease and often leaves individuals feeling ill-prepared and powerless to act. This paper reports on an innovative approach that engages with material culture production; it uses textiles as media to encourage people to share their personal experiences of dementia. The pilot project involved the general public in the making of bespoke sensory objects to promote ‘in the moment pleasure’ for people with later stage dementia, while facilitating an exchange of information about dementia both formally and informally with participants engaged in the making process. The study found that while participants’ individual knowledge and understanding of dementia varied significantly, each participant was able to contribute, share their knowledge and become empowered through activity

Dementia · Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution · Telecommunications · Aging and Gerontology Research · Computer Science · Medicine · Participatory Visual Research Methods · Psychology · Technology Use by Older Adults

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Open DOISci-HubOpen Access