2018 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
DESIGNING FOR DEMENTIA: Integrating Standards of Art and Design into Healthcare Facilities
Project/Area Number |
17H04771
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Research Institution | Aoyama Gakuin University |
Principal Investigator |
FONDEVILLA HL 青山学院大学, 総合文化政策学部, 助教 (60711918)
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Project Period (FY) |
2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
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Keywords | art and dementia / dementia |
Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
In 2018, together with the NPO Arts Alive, I organized and presented at an international conference held at the National Art Center in Roppongi entitled "Art, Memory and Aging: Building Dementia-Friendly Communities through the Arts." The international roster of speakers included Prof. Peter Whitehouse of Case Western Reserve University in the US, Dr. Karen Gray of the University of Worcester in the UK, Adrian Boag from Australian National Museum. Prof. Yoko Hayashi, of Arts Alive and Shobi University. I also made a presentation at the BAJS Conference at the University of Sheffield at a panel on "Art, Media and Technology: Reactions to and Depictions of Demographic Change in Japan." A research field trip together with researchers from Japan and the US brought us to Age Exchange in London for an interview with Rebecca Packwood, Anne Gallacher of Luminate! in Scotland, Edinburgh Fringe Festival with its dementia-related performances, Kathy Gilfoy of Resonate Arts, Peggy Coles of Creating with Dementia, the TanDEM program at the University of Worcester (a graduate program specializing in arts and dementia research),as well as a visit to a dementia village in Amsterdam, Hogeweyk. On a visit to the United States, I was able to receive training to become a Memories in the Making facilitator at Alzheimer's Los Angeles, and participate in their programs such as Memory Mornings and Memories in the Making. I was also able to have a dialogue with the program coordinators of Kei Ai retirement community in Los Angeles and participate at the Faces of Caregiving video events.
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Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
Despite the numerous activities that I have planned and organized for the research, I have realized the gargantuan task of achieving its goals and has decided to scale it down. All of the researchers I have interviewed are facing the same problem of creating a standard of care, or a measurement of wellbeing. Since the research field in itself is still in its infancy, there have been no conclusions, but plenty of observations and anecdotal evidence. In addition, the challenge of working and convincing Japanese facilities to work with the arts has been challenging, as there are many set rules that have already been put in place, and they are not as flexible. I am therefore scaling down the research and focusing on the importance of promoting wellbeing through the arts, and in finding a holistic way of measuring this. I will also focus more on propagating dementia awareness and the role of the arts to other researchers, students, and caregivers.
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Strategy for Future Research Activity |
For this coming fiscal year, I have invited two leading researchers from the UK to hold inspirational workshops for students and interested parties on dementia awareness, the role of the arts and integrating co-creativity and improvisation to engage people with dementia. I am making plans to work with University of Tsukuba hospital in organizing Memories in the Making sessions as well as musical improvisation. In addition, I have been included as co-researcher at the ESRC-ASHRC UK-Japan SSH Connection grant with Julian West of the Royal Academy of Music and Dr. Hannah Zeilig of the University of Arts, London on the project "The arts and dementia:how might the arts contribute to the creation of more inclusive aging societies?" A research trip is scheduled for September which includes representatives from Japan, the US, and the UK.
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Research Products
(6 results)