My Story. A co-designed method of engagement
Dr. Claire Craig
Professor of Inclusive Design, Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design
Royal College of Art
Summary
Meaningful occupation, including everyday activities, personal routines, and hobbies, plays an important role in supporting the wellbeing, dignity, and identity of people living with dementia. This poster presents the development of My Story, a co-designed person-centred planning and engagement toolkit created to support meaningful occupation within Alzheimer Scotland day care services.
Using an iterative co-design methodology, people living with dementia and Alzheimer Scotland staff collaborated through workshops, design sprints, and feedback sessions to develop and refine a range of planning tools and activities. Participants contributed directly to the content, design, and implementation of the toolkit, ensuring that lived experience remained central throughout the process.
The project produced a set of resources that support meaningful conversations about personal experiences, strengths, interests, and future aspirations. Designed to be flexible and responsive to changing needs, My Story enables individuals to express what matters most to them while fostering connection and engagement within day care settings.
The poster will also share findings from an evidence review exploring person-centred planning in dementia care and its relationship to wellbeing. Alongside this, insights gained through engagement with Alzheimer Scotland staff highlighted opportunities to enhance existing practices and use creative resources to support deeper engagement.
An iterative cycle of testing, feedback, thematic analysis, and refinement informed the final toolkit. My Story is intended as an ongoing and evolving process that supports reflection, conversation, and meaningful engagement, helping to enhance the day care experience for people living with dementia.