Doctoral Candidates & Projects

Marine Markaryan
Maastricht University

Responding to changing relationships
Maintaining personal relationships incouples affected by dementia

Supervisors: Prof. dr. Marjolein de Vugt, Dr. Sara Bartels, Prof. dr. Niels Hendriks, Andrea Alessandri (Noon Care)

Prior to joining the HOMEDEM project, I worked as a qualitative researcher in market research and studied Psychology at the University of Leuven in Belgium. These studies and work experiences shaped my interest in developing daily-life interventions to improve Quality of Life with chronic health conditions.  

My research is focused on enhancing the personal relationships in couples where one partner is diagnosed with dementia, through a three-stage process. First, I plan to map out relational needs against current interventions to pinpoint gaps in addressing the quality of relationships. Second, I aim to employ a participatory and user-centered design approach, collaborating closely with stakeholders, including those living with dementia, their partners, and professionals in relationship counseling and clinical neuroscience, to develop or refine interventions through iterative meetings. Third, I intend to evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions through case studies, adopting a mixed-methods approach that combines structured diaries and semi-structured interviews to capture both quantitative and qualitative outcomes. This work reflects my commitment to innovation and deep empathy for affected couples.

Rising Lai
LUCA School of Arts

Responding to changing relationships
Co-design communication products andservices with PwD living at home

Supervisors: Prof. dr. Niels Hendriks, Dr. Andrea Wilkinson, Dr. Sara Bartels

I am a designer-researcher with a background in industrial product design. My early career concentrated on universal design and inclusivity, and I have amassed experience in design research, product development, and artistic expression. My design practice is dedicated to fostering dialogue and creating positive social impact.

In my HOMEDEM project, I am researching co-designing communication products with people with dementia (PwD), focusing on facilitating shared decision-making within home care settings and enhancing autonomy. The beginning stages of my project involve defining the research scope and conducting a preliminary literature review, supplemented by insightful written notes. The future direction includes immersive observation sessions in community-dwelling care homes and engaging in a secondment with Huis Perrekes, paving the way for data collection and analysis. I aim to craft innovative designs that foster effective communication products and tools between PwDs and their primary informal caregivers.

Sunny Tan
University of Aveiro

Responding to changing relationships
Understanding (un)met social needs: Case studies of immigrant older adults with dementia and their caregivers in Portugal

Supervisors: Prof. dr. Liliana Sousa, Prof. dr. Oscar Ribeiro, Dr. Rita Maldonado Branco, Dr. Andrea Wilkinson, Dr. Sara Alves (CASO50+)

I obtained my bachelor’s degree from Trinity College Dublin and my Masters from University College London, both in Physiotherapy. With a decade of clinical experience as a Physiotherapist in Singapore, I collaborated closely with multidisciplinary teams to enhance hospital services and conduct clinical research for a spectrum of acute to chronic health issues prevalent in the ageing population.

My current research focuses on understanding the social needs of immigrant older adults with dementia and their caregivers, specifically within the context of Portugal. The intial phase of the project involves a scoping review to identify the (un)met social needs and how they evolve as dementia progresses. The next stage involves interviews to gain insights into the (un)met social needs and potential solutions, from the perspectives of immigrant older adults with dementia and their caregivers residing in Portugal. Through this research, I aim to contribute to a better understanding of the social needs of older adults living with dementia, which can inform future research aimed at developing solutions for this vulnerable population.

Alicia Valencia
TU Eindhoven

Responding to changing needs in the living environment
Investigating self-directed play in the context of dementia

Supervisors: Prof. dr. Wijnand IJsselsteijn, Dr. Rens Brankaert, Dr. Ana Correia de Barros (FhP-AICOS), Dr. Joan Vermeulen (Archipel)

I received an MDes from Harvard Graduate School of Design and an MSc in Human-Environment Relations from Cornell University. My work has focused on participatory design with dementia, integrating my personal caregiving experience and graduate research on self-directed aesthetic engagement in long-term memory care.  

In my research, I am exploring the potential of self-directed play to enhance the lives of people with dementia (PwD) living at home, addressing the significant challenge of diminished motivation and initiative. By investigating how the physical and social environment can inspire play, alongside the reflective and automatic processes motivating engagement, my study aims to understand the influence of psychological and physical capabilities on PwDs' willingness to play. While referencing prior behavioral models, I'll gather qualitative data through interactive play workshops and interviews, focusing on capability, opportunity, and motivation. This innovative approach seeks to redefine the role of play in promoting autonomy and personhood among PwDs, potentially contributing to their ability to live more fulfilling lives at home.

Natsumi Wada
Politecnico di Milano

Responding to changing needs in the living environment
Design process to explore the sense of home while creating

Supervisors: Prof. dr. Alessandro Biamonti, Dr. Silvia Maria Gramegna, Prof. dr. Marjolein de Vugt

I am a designer and interpreter with a background in Japanese and Japanese Sign Language, stemming from my experience as a CODA. My expertise includes 8 years in interaction design - developing a communication toolkit, and employing design and interpretation to explore individual backgrounds and histories, particularly in dementia contexts. 

In my research, I aim to explore and enhance home-making processes within dementia villages, with a focus on fostering deep senses of belonging and home for individuals with dementia (PwD) and their care networks. This study unfolds in five stages, starting with a comprehensive review of global environmental design approaches for PwD, and moving to fieldwork for direct observation and stakeholder mapping. Next will come co-design activities with a tailored design kit to collaboratively explore the "sense of home". Following this, I'll design and validate interventions for dementia village living environments, and conclude by formulating practical guidelines from the insights and experiences gathered. These outcomes aim to make a significant contribution to dementia care practices and the establishment of a profound sense of home for PwDs.

Ajda Flisar
KU Leuven

Responding to changing needs in the living environment
Nightly agitation in people with dementia

Supervisors: Prof. dr. Jessie Dezutter, Prof. dr. Chantal van Audenhove, Dr. Evelien Coppens

I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Psychology and my master’s degree in clinical psychology at the University of Amsterdam. My focus has been on developing research skills within an interdisciplinary network, with a particular interest in real-context solutions that blend theoretical and practical aspects in dementia care.

This project aims to develop a tool for nightly agitation in people with dementia (PwD) to be used by their informal caregivers. The project started with a scoping review to identify behavioral characteristics of nightly agitation and to come up with a definition of nightly agitation. The second step involves an Experience Sampling Method (ESM) study targeting dyads of caregivers and PwD and diving into their experience of nightly agitation in people with dementia. This study will utilize a mixed-methods design and start in February 2024. The quantitative part will look into the role of coping styles in the relationship between nightly agitation in PwD and the caregiver’s stress. The qualitative part will delve into the experience of nightly agitation from the caregivers’ perspective and examine their daily needs to better handle the nightly agitation in PwD. Input from the ESM study will be used to develop a tool in collaboration with the Dutch company Panton.

Andrea Nakakawa Bernal
Politecnico di Milano

Designing for responsive and sustainable care ecosystems
Designing an integrated ecosystem for personalised dementia care

Supervisors: Prof. dr. Daniela Sangiorgi, Prof. dr. Eamon O’Shea

I am a psychologist and service designer with 5 years of experience as a consultant in healthcare innovation, with an MSc in Health and Social Psychology. My expertise includes conducting needs and assets assessments and working with marginalized populations, with a keen interest in mixed methods, intersectionality, and participatory design.

In my ongoing research, I’ll explore the ecosystem surrounding dementia home care, with a specific focus on key values such as personhood, autonomy, and citizenship. My aim is twofold: to grasp how these values are supported from a policy level and operationalized through service-delivery, and to identify opportunities to better integrate dementia care services. Currently, I'm crafting a framework from a service ecosystem perspective to encapsulate these values, drawing insights from an extensive literature review. This framework will guide comparative case studies across two countries, examining different care ecosystem models and value co-creation dynamics, as well as their ability to foster service integration and support our key values. By illuminating key factors of dementia care ecosystems, my research aims to advance integrated care and promote person-centered practices globally.

Vamsi Krishna Boyanagari
University of Galway

Designing for responsive and sustainable care ecosystems
An economic analysis of autonomy-enhancing services and supports for people with dementia in Ireland

Supervisors: Prof. dr. Sharon Walsh, Prof. dr. Eamon O'Shea

I am an early career researcher with Master's degrees in Public Health and Global Aging. My academic journey has provided me with a profound understanding of the unique challenges faced by older individuals, particularly those living with dementia.

In my study, I aim to assess public attitudes and preferences towards new psychosocial care models for individuals with dementia, emphasizing choice and autonomy across different care settings. Utilizing discrete choice experiments, I will explore the importance of various care attributes, including design elements, and individuals' willingness to trade between them. Additionally, I'll conduct a cross-country comparative analysis of autonomy-enhancing policies for people with dementia in Europe, focusing on independent living designs. Year 1 will involve an in-depth literature review, comparative policy analysis, and structured PhD modules, alongside background work for paper 2, setting the foundation for comprehensive research outcomes and meaningful contributions to dementia care practices.