Designing Virtual Soundscapes for Alzheimer's Disease Care
This addresses the need for non-pharmacological interventions to improve care and therapy for individuals with Alzheimer's disease, though it appears incremental as it builds on existing soundscape concepts.
The authors tackled the problem of designing an interactive audio apparatus, 'Madeleines Sonores', to create virtual soundscapes for Alzheimer's care, deploying it 24/7 for a year with 14 elderly residents in a care unit, and initiated scientific studies to evaluate its therapeutic benefits.
Sound environment is a prime source of conscious and unconscious information which allows listeners to place themselves, to communicate, to feel, to remember. The author describes the process of designing a new audio interactive apparatus for Alzheimer's care, in the context of an active multidisciplinary research project led by the author in collaboration with a longterm care centre (EHPAD) in Burgundy (France), a geriatrician, a gerontologist, psychologists and caregivers. The apparatus, named Madeleines Sonores in reference to Proust's madeleine, have provided virtual soundscapes sounding for a year for 14 elderly people hosted in the dedicated Alzheimer's unit of the care centre, 24/7. Empiric aspects of sonic interactivity are discussed in relation to dementia and to the activity of caring. Scientific studies are initiated to evaluate the benefits of such a disposal in Alzheimer's disease therapy and in caring dementia.