Centre for Policy on Ageing



Design and dementia — a case of garments designed to prevent undressing
Author(s)	Sonja Iltanen-Tahkavuori, Minttu Wikberg, Paivi Topo
Journal title	Dementia: the international journal of social research and practice, vol 11, no 1, January 2012
Pages	pp 49-59
Source	http://dem.sagepub.com/
Keywords	Dementia ; Memory disorders ; Cognitive impairment ; Incontinence ; Clothing ; Design ; Social ethics.
Annotation	This study investigated a patient garment developed for the care of people with severe memory problems, severe learning difficulties and brain injuries. A patient garment was designed to prevent undressing in socially inappropriate situations and/or to stop the user from removing an incontinence pad. Study findings indicated that both designers and patients found the garment to be infantilising and stigmatising for the user but accepted the basic functions of the product. The authors report on the results of a design project aimed at designing a new type of garment that takes into account the technical requirements but provides a more dignified look and opportunities for activity. Finally they explore the ethical issues concerning the use of this kind of product in dementia care settings. (JL).
Accession Number	CPA-120626003 A
Classmark	EA: EH: E4: CTM: YW7: 33: TQ
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.