The map of me: caring through clothing. An empathic co-design, art-based intervention that explores personhood through garments of significance for people living with dementia

Abstract

This thesis demonstrates the research process of an ecopsychosocial intervention called the ‘Map of Me: Caring Through Clothing’ (MoM), which uses garments of significance as a trigger to excavate the lived experience of people living with dementia. The global prevalence of dementia is over 50 million and is set to rise to 152 million by 2050 (Alzheimer’s Disease International, 2021). People who live with dementia often live at home and are cared for by primary carers, or they live in specialised care facilities with trained staff. There is currently no cure available for most types of dementia (Alzheimer’s Disease International, 2020). The research sits within the qualitative and art-based research methodology traditions, using inductive reasoning and mixed methods for data collection, which includes observation, case study, narrative, workshops and drawing. The work is informed by practice, specifically three iterations of the MoM process, to co-create forward interventions to be considered for the future care of the person living with dementia (PLWD) and their primary carer. It is a novel empathic co-design framework that weaves best practice nursing and dementia care, using items of significant clothing to excavate lived experience. This thesis illustrates how lived experience drawn from narratives instigated by significant garments contributes to an exploration of self, personhood and the interrelationship between a PLWD and their primary carer. Further, it uses art-based research methods of drawing, reflective writing and object excavation to uncover intangible and tangible understandings of everyday human interactions with garments. It positions the person at the heart of their own ‘ecosystem’, surrounded by meaningful interrelationships and objects within their environment. The Map of Me: Caring Through Clothing framework has been co-designed and tested over time with the participants. A set of procedures, resources and recommendations has been formulated as a result of the research.