Designing information for families caring for people with dementia

Black, A., Carey, C., Matthews, V. and Solomons, L. (2019) Designing information for families caring for people with dementia. Design for Health, 3 (2). pp. 199-219. ISSN 2473-5132 doi: 10.1080/24735132.2019.1629766

Abstract/Summary

A health communication project, to develop information to support families caring for people with dementia, is described. Close collaboration of designers with carers – ‘experts by experience’ – and clinicians and other professionals – ‘experts by training’ – was used. Carer consultation led to a printed (rather than digital) handbook. An iterative process of carer and clinician consultation and design shaped the material form of the handbook. Carers’ needs for different kinds of information were met by a modular approach, and tailored module design. Evaluation following distribution of the handbook suggested it improved carers’ understanding of dementia significantly compared to the information from diverse sources supplied previously. It did not, however, influence people’s confidence in their ability to care, which appeared to be supported better through carer education courses. The specific contribution of information design and its potential for delivering return on investment are discussed.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/id/eprint/79523
Identification Number/DOI	10.1080/24735132.2019.1629766
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Arts, Humanities and Social Science > School of Arts and Communication Design > Typography & Graphic Communication
Publisher	Taylor & Francis
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