Designs Need to Care for Carers

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Abstract

This work explores where design should care, from the perspective of caring about carers of people who have degenerative mental conditions such as Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. In the current epoch caring is delivered through many different structures, from organised and centralised systems of paid for services, through to ad-hoc responsive and enforced positions, thrust upon loved ones. When the burden of becoming a carer of a friend or loved one becomes your responsibility a number of sacrifices or responses are attached to the situation. Personal identification, emotional entanglement, immersion, investment and empowerment, along with many other concerns interweave, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. For some, the sudden and deep immersion of becoming a carer can even appear to be like a ‘prison sentence’ constricting time and freedom or restricting personal rights and responsibilities. Whilst for some 'care' is liberating, gives purpose and defines their being. And of course, 'care' can be hugely emotionally charged, both for those giving and receiving. Care is paradoxical in that it can both nurture and destroy and as such can lead to even more unmetered complexities. Or, ‘care’ can represent the greatest presentation of humanity.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2017
EventDoes Design Care? - Lancaster, United Kingdom
Duration: 1 Sept 2017 → …

Conference

ConferenceDoes Design Care?
Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
CityLancaster
Period1/09/17 → …

Keywords

  • Design Care Carer

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