Abstract
This study explores possible drivers for change to enhance the living experience for early Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) seniors and their families in Shanghai. The DfA-driven research of the current service design solutions, and the ANAs (Abilities, Necessities, Aspirations) of the early AD seniors, their families and the relevant institutions, highlights a possible transformation from a mainly medical approach focused on safety to a holistic approach, stemming from safety to pursue autonomy and self-actualisation, thus facilitating the creation of a possible 'New Family' as a synergic nucleus in opposition to a dipole caretaker-caregiver dynamic. Hence, the authors designed a possible strategy and a PSS to meet the research findings. Families, early AD seniors and institutional experts were involved in concept co-creation and prototype testing phases to assess the study's direction, the proposal's inclusiveness and lay a foundation for future developments. The PSS embeds renewing/transforming. Future research developments could involve cooperation with Shanghai social organisations reaching more households collecting more data, and nursing homes to evaluate the possibilities of guiding caregivers towards viable autonomy and self-actualisation of institutionalised seniors. As AD's early stages are best for intervention to slow progression and optimise results, this study's scope is decisive in enhancing AD families' living experience. With Shanghai's number of cases ranking second in China, the majority home-stayed, this study's findings could have a significant impact on enabling AD families for a more satisfying and fulfilling life, facilitating a new dynamic of autonomy that empowers and an equal, open, proactive discussion within the family.
Keywords
Sustainable Development; Design for All; PSSD for Alzheimer; social innovation for communities;
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2023.347
Citation
Accolla, A.,and Zhou, Z.(2023) Seniors with early AD in China: study of a Design for All (DfA) approach for a transformed, happier family life., in De Sainz Molestina, D., Galluzzo, L., Rizzo, F., Spallazzo, D. (eds.), IASDR 2023: Life-Changing Design, 9-13 October, Milan, Italy. https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2023.347
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Seniors with early AD in China: study of a Design for All (DfA) approach for a transformed, happier family life.
This study explores possible drivers for change to enhance the living experience for early Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) seniors and their families in Shanghai. The DfA-driven research of the current service design solutions, and the ANAs (Abilities, Necessities, Aspirations) of the early AD seniors, their families and the relevant institutions, highlights a possible transformation from a mainly medical approach focused on safety to a holistic approach, stemming from safety to pursue autonomy and self-actualisation, thus facilitating the creation of a possible 'New Family' as a synergic nucleus in opposition to a dipole caretaker-caregiver dynamic. Hence, the authors designed a possible strategy and a PSS to meet the research findings. Families, early AD seniors and institutional experts were involved in concept co-creation and prototype testing phases to assess the study's direction, the proposal's inclusiveness and lay a foundation for future developments. The PSS embeds renewing/transforming. Future research developments could involve cooperation with Shanghai social organisations reaching more households collecting more data, and nursing homes to evaluate the possibilities of guiding caregivers towards viable autonomy and self-actualisation of institutionalised seniors. As AD's early stages are best for intervention to slow progression and optimise results, this study's scope is decisive in enhancing AD families' living experience. With Shanghai's number of cases ranking second in China, the majority home-stayed, this study's findings could have a significant impact on enabling AD families for a more satisfying and fulfilling life, facilitating a new dynamic of autonomy that empowers and an equal, open, proactive discussion within the family.