In this third issue of our HOMEDEM newsletter, let’s get to know Work Package 2 (WP2) and how they are contributing to innovative research in the area of dementia.

Research Directions

The aims of WP2 are to enhance the living environment for people with dementia and their carers by co-designing supportive interventions and assessing their impact within care ecosystems, considering economic, social, and personal effects.

Research collaborations

Alicia (TU/E, left) is exploring the nature of open-ended play for people with early to mid-stage dementia, and how interactions with technology can facilitate agency and initiative in open-ended play. Natsumi (POLIMI, middle) is investigating how interior design can activate the homemaking process that enhances individuals' sense of belonging and sense of home. Ajda (KUL, right) is researching nightly agitation in people with dementia living at home, to understand its impact on the informal caregivers and develop a tool to support their needs.

Significance in Dementia Research:

"We are working to address three critical aspects of dementia care: managing nighttime agitation, a major contributor to caregiver strain and institutionalization; supporting identity and well-being through thoughtful home design; and exploring open-ended play as a psychosocial intervention. By integrating strategies to reduce agitation, designing environments that affirm identity, and creating playful technologies to foster agency and joy, we aim to enhance quality of life for individuals with dementia and their caregivers, promoting sustainable and meaningful home-based care solutions."

Alicia, Ajda and Natsumi, Work Package 2