H4 Team Template: Dementia HMWQ
MacChangers 2023-2024 Final Deliverable - H4 TEAM
Executive Summary
Group Members
Our How Might We Question
How might we build Dementia-friendly living spaces or communities for the aging population in Hamilton?
Human Centred Design
Stakeholder 1
Stakeholder 2
Stakeholder 3
Our Research Findings
SDG Alignment
SDG: 3 - Good Health and Well-Being
Targets: 3.4 - By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being
Rationale: One of the first steps of developing a safer city for the aging population with dementia is the development of unlimited access to mental health and wellness services which must be assisted as a community. As dementia encapsulates several impacts within various health categories (e.g. mental health, physical health), prevention and treatment are methods that can simultaneously aid members of dementia living spaces while also increase awareness of dementia/non-communicable diseases to the general public.
SDG: 3 - Good Health and Well-Being
Targets: 3.8 - Provide access to universal health coverage, essential health-care services, and safe and effective medicines for everyone.
Rationale: To ensure safe spaces for the health and wellbeing of individuals living with dementia, it is paramount that quality and essential healthcare services are made accessible without financial burden. It is crucial to address the reality -- high costs of affording care at senior residence centres are barriers experienced by these individuals. As such, additional coverage should go towards funding geriatric health-focused services, like long-term care residences and other community services, to help maintain quality of life and safety for these populations.
SDG: 16 - Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Targets: 16.7 - Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels
Rationale: Regrettably, one aspect often overlooked in the care or daily treatment of dementia patients is respecting the autonomy of the individual. By ensuring an inclusive and safe environment for those associated with the Dementia community, including those who reside or work within Dementia-friendly living spaces, we can strive to create decisions that enable active participation and contribution from members of the dementia community. Consequently, this approach can lead to effectively developing solutions that are best suited to the needs of dementia-friendly living spaces, and the community as a whole.
SDG: 16 - Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Targets: 16.6 - Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels
Rationale: Creating Dementia-friendly living spaces within the community will require the collaboration of healthcare, urban planning, and social service sectors. Through such collaboration, such sectors can hold each other accountable during the various stages of implementing Dementia-friendly spaces, to ensure that they are effectively catering to the needs of such a vulnerable population. Additionally, during this process, transparent communication with various stakeholders and the public is essential as it will contribute towards the building of inclusive communities that are responsive to the needs of individuals with dementia.
Case Studies and Findings
Revised Questions After Speaking to the Community
- What are the most recommended stakeholders to consult with regards to our HMWQ?
- Are there potential changes going to be imposed on current policies regarding Hamilton’s Dementia Living Spaces?
- What specific difficulties do caregivers encounter in adapting living spaces for individuals with dementia in Hamilton, and what resources or support do they need?
Our Timeline
LINK TO MID-YEAR PRESENTATION: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ts178oSxGaQn-kjwy8M03Rmu8kIFJVd_wvpgQlSN044/edit?usp=sharing
Original How Might We Question
How might we build Dementia-friendly living spaces or communities for the aging population in Hamilton?
Brainstorm
This original question was too broad. We wanted to narrow down our audience and focus on a specific topic like technology.
Our Revised How Might We Question
How can we design a solution for the Hamilton Dementia Patient Community that can enhance ease of navigating technology?
First Community Event Feedback + Next Steps
How do we plan to make our solution feasible and accessible into a tanglible prototype?
Final Community Event Feedback
How do we revise our prototype for our final showcase?
Measuring Success
How will we measure the success of our solution, should it be implemented?
- Usage Metrics: scanning number of downloads, app frequency, active users etc. to determine how many patients are truly benefitting from the app, as well as its usability.
- User Feedback: Implement a feedback route within the app for dementia patients or caregivers to offer detailed improvements that can be made to the app.
- Research Health Outcomes: the usability of an online application within dementia-care settings is considerably under-researched; research changes in cognitive function, quality of life (QOL) etc. to understand the app's effectiveness.
