AHO WORKS STUDIES 2012-2013
Diploma Projects
Master of Industrial Design
EMPOWERING THE NEXT OF KIN – IN DEMENTIA CARE
MARIT STØYLEN AND ÅSNE KYDLAND
Supervisors: Ted Matthews and Birger Sevaldson
In the near future the number of elderly people will increase. This means that
more people will suffer from dementia. Because dementia affects the whole
family, this project aims to improve the situation for friends and relatives of
people suffering from dementia.
Family and friends are a great resource, not only for the ill but also for society
in general. Unfortunately their efforts are often forgotten and neglected by the
public. Workshops, conversations and mapping with next of kin and profes-
sionals gave us insight on a complex and multifactorial offering. To understand
and benefit from support services it requires a lot of initiative from the patient
and next of kin. This often results in helpful offers not reaching the user, and in
important information being received too late. An empowered carer armed with
information and knowledge makes a difference both for the carer, the person
with dementia, and the society in general.
Through identifying needs and mapping existing services in dementia care.
We saw a need to promote and strengthen the municipal service called the
Pårørendeskolen. This service offers courses and support for family members in
292 municipalities in Norway today. The service is one of very few ones existing
only for next of kin of people with dementia. Even though Pårørendeskolen is an
offering with proven positive effect, they struggle with low attendance amongst
other things. Our concept is a strategy for the Pårørendeskolen to access a wider
audience. By enhancing and highlighting their offer, a greater number of friends
and relatives will be able to find and use the offer. This will help more carers
become equipped to deal with a challenging situation. Armed with knowledge
and information they can actively make choices to improve quality of life, both
for themselves and for the dementia sufferer.
