Niedderer, K., Fung, P.L., 2023.

Living the life: evidence-based design and evaluation of psychosocial interventions with people with dementia

Design is increasingly recognised as an important means to create and deliver psychosocial interventions for people living with early to mid-stage dementia to help manage impacts on cognitive and psychosocial health. Managing them is important, especially for people with a recent diagnosis, who may live 10 or more years and who want to live well. However, interventions often lack a sound evidence base, both in terms of designing as well as evaluation. This paper argues for the need to promote and further evidence-based designing and evaluation, using the example of the Living the Life mindful-reflective booklet, an evidence-based, self-administered psychosocial intervention, co-designed during the XXX project. The booklet was designed to help people with early-stage dementia to adjust to their everyday living, including relieving stress and maintaining social connections. This paper reflects on the evidence-based approach for its design and the methodology for its evaluation.