Design for Wellbeing

3    Designing for people living with dementia

Cathy Treadaway

Introduction

This chapter explores how design can be used to support the wellbeing of people living with dementia. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO),¹ the numbers of people with a diagnosis of dementia are increasing globally and there are few signs of an imminent cure for the disease. A compassionate society, in which all human life is valued and celebrated, should be concerned with the wellbeing of people living with dementia; they should be enabled to continue to experience pleasure, joy and laughter through the illness until the end of life² (Hughes, 2014; Brooker, 2007). Designers have an important role to play in ensuring this is possible. This chapter discusses ...