Closer to Nature - Interactive Installation Design for Elderly with Dementia

Dementia is a serious degenerative neurological condition that affects cognition and memory, often accompanied with depression and anxiety. As explicit memory deteriorates, the implicit memory remains, so sensory stimulation and tangible solutions become increasingly important to people with dementia. This paper presents the design, implementation and evaluation process of Closer to Nature, an interactive installation aiming to provide opportunities for people with dementia in care facilities to feel more connected to nature. Closer to Nature aims to do so by combining the soothing effect of nature and the animal therapy via tangible interaction with tactile stimulation. Based on the feedback we collected, we analyse the insights from the interactive installation design for seniors with dementia in their living environment and discuss the potential of utilizing tangible interaction to help facilitate the supportive environment for the elderly.