Remem-Bear: A Comforting Companion for Dementia Support

Video Transcript

Hello, my name is Claire Couture and I’m in grade 9 in Fernie BC. Dementia is a global health concern that affects approximately 57 million senior citizens worldwide, and can have profound impacts on the lives of those affected due to a wide range of behavioural, cognitive, and physical symptoms. I am an avid volunteer at Rocky mountain village, which is Fernie’s local long-term care facility, and I've had the opportunity to spend time with dozens of seniors with varying stages of dementia. These experiences inspired me to create something that would have the potential to improve their quality of life by reducing some of these issues. Remem-Bear is a novel approach to dementia care that utilizes several therapeutic interventions like aromatherapy, reminiscence therapy, and tactile stimulation and combines them into one, comprehensive, affordable product that can be used by seniors both in care facilities and living at home. It is my hope that Remem-Bear could be manufactured and sold for a fraction of the cost of many currently available support technologies, allowing it to be accessible to those who need it most.

Neurodegeneration, also known as dementia, is a health concern that affects approximately 57 million people worldwide, with around 10 million new cases reported each year. Dementia is caused by the progressive loss of neurons, neuron structure, and/or their functions in the brain. This issue becomes increasingly common with age, especially amongst senior citizens, and is typically the result of various neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease. Dementia is incredibly complex, as it presents as a broad spectrum of physical, cognitive, and behavioural symptoms that have severe impacts on the lives of those affected.

I am an avid volunteer at Rocky Mountain Village, Fernie’s local assisted living and long-term care facility, and have had the opportunity to spend time with many seniors with varying neurodegenerative conditions. These experiences have allowed me to learn how to respond to and manage these issues. I was able to observe what worked and what didn't, as well as the differences between individuals in terms of their symptoms and support requirements. I met several residents who live in an almost constant state of discomfort due to their struggles with neurodegenerative conditions, particularly surrounding behavioural and emotional regulation. Confusion, agitation, paranoia, anxiety, depression, and rapid mood changes are all relatively common amongst this population. Seeing this inspired me to want to create something that would have the potential to improve their quality of life by helping them manage their individual difficulties without having to rely on drugs or caregiver assistance.

Materials

Beige sherpa fabric

Teddy bear sewing pattern

Pins, sewing needle, and fabric clips

Thread and bobbins

Sewing machine

Safety eyes and nose

Assorted fabric, ribbon, buttons and elastic scraps

Zipper

Lining fabric

Stuffing

Heartbeat simulator

Voice recorder

Rice and unscented epsom salts

Essential oils

Procedure

Bear

Firstly, the sherpa fabric was cut following the pattern pieces.

The head, face, legs, and body of the bear were assembled using a sewing machine.

Next, the head was attached to the body, leaving the back section open. This had to be modified slightly from the original pattern.

The safety eyes and nose were attached to the face.

The inner pocket was put together, inserted into the opening, and partially sewn into place.

The bear was stuffed, leaving enough empty space to fit the internal features.

The opening was sewn closed by hand using the ladder stitch technique.

The arms were stuffed and connected to the body with some slight modification.

Fabric scraps of varying textures and colours were cut and hand sewn to the ears and paws of the bear.

Finally, the heartbeat box and voice recorder were installed within the pocket.

Vest

First, the fabric was measured and cut into back and front pieces. This had to be adjusted several times in order to achieve a proper fit.

The pieces were hemmed and connected together at the sides.

Velcro and buttons were attached at the opening.

Lastly, the zipper, elastic loop, shoelace, and tassel were hand sewn to the back.

Aromatherapy pouch

First, the rice and unscented epsom salts were measured into separate bowls.

15 drops of lavender and cinnamon leaf essential oils were added to the epsom salts and rice respectively.

The mixtures were then placed into scraps of cotton fabric and secured with ribbon.

My device is a teddy bear, which can help promote reminiscence and comfort. It integrates various non-pharmacological interventions (treatment techniques that don’t involve the use of drugs) to provide support in several areas of behavioural and cognitive difficulties. There have been numerous studies exploring the impact of non-pharmacological interventions for dementia care, and the general consensus is that these strategies present their own benefits that differ from person to person. They can be helpful when it comes to improving cognitive function, reducing negative responses, and improving overall quality of life. Most of the features in this device are well concealed inside an inner pocket. The bear's paws and ears are made of different materials of varying textures as a form of tactile stimulation. Tactile stimulation, also known as touch therapy, has been proven to promote positive feelings, stimulate the brain, and enable functional abilities.

On the inside, there is a pulsating mechanism that acts as a heartbeat, an audio playback device for loved ones to record messages, and a removable aromatherapy pouch. Aromatherapy has been shown to alleviate anxiety, enhance cognitive function, and reduce agitation. This pouch is fully removable, as many people have sensitivities to certain scents. The internal speaker is activated by a button in the bear's paw, and the heartbeat simulator is controlled by squeezing the bear. Both are battery powered, although they are not currently connected and use separate batteries. This is something I would like to change in the future. The heartbeat gives the device a lifelikeness that many seniors find soothing, as it may remind them of having a pet of their own. These reminders can help reignite their caregiving instincts, giving them a greater sense of purpose and self-esteem. The voice messages provide a sense of security while also promoting reminiscence. Sometimes all a person needs is a soothing presence to stay calm and grounded. Loneliness is common amongst seniors, especially those living away from their loved ones, which is why reminders of home and connection are so crucial.

Additionally, I created a vest for the bear that has several components that serve to improve fine motor skills and overall motor ability. This can be used as an accessory to practice skills such as zipping up zippers, tying knots, and attaching velcro. It also has a few additional tactile stimulation components. Loss of motor ability is incredibly common amongst seniors with dementia, and it leads to a loss of independence. Their ability to easily perform everyday tasks diminishes, and they are forced to rely more heavily on caregivers. I have witnessed many seniors become incredibly frustrated due to these inabilities, which is why I chose to incorporate these features into my device. Being able to practice frequently can help these skills improve over time. This results in reduced caregiver dependency and a greater sense of personal autonomy.

Although the design is simple, every feature has been carefully selected in order to provide a comprehensive range of support.

Having an affordable and accessible support device for seniors could have benefits in various areas. Many senior citizens rely heavily on caregivers in order to live their lives and perform everyday tasks. As cognitive ability declines, it can lead to confusion, paranoia, memory loss, and heightened anxiety. Many experience rapid changes in mood or behaviour, which can be triggered by nearly anything and happen in a very short period of time. All of these issues place immense strain on both the individual and those surrounding them. Despite the severity of these issues and the rising rates of dementia worldwide, functional and affordable support is still very scarce. Many currently available support technologies cost hundreds, and in some cases thousands of dollars. This creates a significant barrier, as many cannot afford to spend that much on something that isn't guaranteed to benefit them.

My device has the potential to improve the autonomy and wellbeing of seniors by giving them the tools they need to be more independent and empowered, which in turn would reduce the workload of their caregivers. Rather than using harmful drugs to stop a certain behaviour after it has started, these therapeutic interventions help reduce negative responses by considering the root cause of the issues. I believe that everyone deserves to live in a fulfilling and high-quality way, especially those nearing the end of their lives. This product could pave the way for future innovations like it, providing affordable and accessible support systems for senior citizens with dementia.

In the future, there are several ways in which I could improve and expand my project. Firstly, I would like the internal features to be connected and use the same battery. At the moment, the voice recording feature requires the audio to be manually uploaded using a computer. I would like the recordings to be easily customizable from the bear itself, or from an app that could upload the messages remotely. I would also like to find a new way to incorporate aromatherapy into the product, as the removable pouch is not particularly effective.

This project would not have been possible without the support of several incredible people. Firstly, I would like to thank Shelley Moulton, head recreational therapist at Rocky Mountain Village for generously providing me with mentorship, advice, and encouragement. I also want to acknowledge Renee Osborne, who shared her professional experience and acted as an additional mentor. Thank you to Clara Michal for proofreading my work and being brutally honest with me in all regards. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the residents and staff at Rocky Mountain Village, who taught me more than I could ever learn from books and research.

Lastly, I want to take a special moment to acknowledge Audrey (GG) and Joyce, who are no longer with us but continue to serve as my greatest inspiration. I will always be grateful for the lessons they taught me and the time we spent together.

References

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