Storing seniors’ memories online
The recording of life experiences of seniors in residential care may soon be possible in most aged care homes with an award-winning design for an online library of memories.
The recording of life experiences of seniors in residential care may soon be possible in most aged care homes with an award-winning design for an online library of memories.
National Seniors deputy chair and member of the judging panel, Peter Johnstone, has congratulated all six finalists and the winners of RMIT’s 2012 Design Challenge: Ageing Award at a ceremony in Melbourne.
“This proposal values the lives and experiences of seniors in residential care. It could help improve the quality of life for many aged and frail people forced to live very dependently,” Mr Johnstone said.
“It could also help ensure that their wealth of knowledge is not lost to their families and to the community.”
The winning entry entitled On My Life was a joint effort between Cameron Rose, Dr Susan Feldman and Gene Bawden from Monash University, Rueben Stanton from RMIT University, Stephen Sayers from State Library of Victoria and Carol Byron from Melbourne aged care home Chelsea Manor.
The team of design experts, industry professionals, community leaders and academics spent several months developing their research concept.
It will now be developed as a program available to aged carers, particularly in residential facilities, providing an online repository for memories, photographs, documents and other digitised memorabilia.
Aged and frail people could be assisted with the program by volunteers and visitors, including tech-savvy grandchildren.
“It enables elderly residents in care who have little experience using the Internet and computers to easily and intuitively store and share their histories,” Mr Johnstone said.
“It is a conduit between them, their carers and families to build stories.”
The winning team can now locate their activities in the RMIT’s newly opened Design Hub with access to its networks, and can also pitch for partners and funding and engage in mentoring programs.
The Design Challenge: Ageing Award Exhibition of finalists is open to the public during weekdays from 9am-6pm, 5-19 April 2013 in the Level 3 foyer at the RMIT Design Hub corner of Swanston and Victoria Streets, Melbourne.
