Supporting Reflection and Creative Thinking by Carers of Older People with Dementia

Abstract

Abstract-This paper reports ongoing research and development in the EU-funded MIRROR project to support and enhance reflective learning and creative problem solving during the care of older people with dementia. The research has designed and implemented apps on mobile devices that support more direct capture of care information in situ and support creative thinking about care in difficult situations from existing cases of good care practice. These devices and apps are currently being trialed in one care home to explore their feasibility.

Using mobile devices and apps to support reflective learning about older people with dementia

“…This decision was motivated by an earlier investigation during another pre--design study. For one week, we replaced the paper notes of carers in a residential home with mobile iPod Touch devices running commercial apps that could support what is done with the paper notes, for example with a social media app to capture and share observations about residents [Karlsen et al 2011]. The pilot was successful in that the carers carried the devices and used the apps throughout the week.…”

Academics' responses to encountered information: Context matters

“…Other existing interactive systems explicitly support reflection to stimulate creative thinking. For example, MIRROR (Karlsen et al., ) is a mobile application that helps home care staff solve unfamiliar workplace‐related problems by encouraging carers to use analogical reasoning to apply solutions to previous problems, from either within or outside their domain, to their current problem.…”

A software app to support creativity in dementia care

“…We used the data collected from these 3 sources to answer 4 We asked the first question to explore whether carers were willing and able to describe challenging behaviors then generate ideas and care enhancement plans using the app. We already knew from our pre-design studies that carers carried and used mobile devices [18]. In this evaluation we focused on specific uses of the Carer app such as to describe situations and generate ideas.…”

“…Desktop-based software would not fit with working practices. Therefore, to explore alternatives, for one week, we replaced the paper notes of 8 other carers in the same pilot home with mobile iPod Touch devices running commercial apps that could support what is done with the paper notes, for example with a social media app to capture and share observations about residents [18]. The pilot was successful in that the carers carried and used the devices and apps throughout the week, although device use was restricted to quieter shift periods.…”